NCDHHS reports dramatic increase in hepatitis cases
Cases of hepatitis C in North Carolina increased by 200 percent from 2012-16, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. Cases of hepatitis B increased 62 percent during the same period. (Photo credit: WLOS staff)
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Cases of hepatitis C in North Carolina increased by 200 percent from 2012-16, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. Cases of hepatitis B increased 62 percent during the same period.
A news release from NCHHS said hepatitis B and C are spread when blood from an infected person enters the body of someone who is not infected. Hepatitis B, and in some instances hepatitis C, can also be spread through sex with an infected partner. It is estimated that as many as 150,000 North Carolinians are infected with chronic hepatitis C and 60,000 are infected with chronic hepatitis B, the release said.
Officials said the leading cause of new hepatitis C cases is transmission through needle-sharing related to drug use.
Needles can be exchanged for free weekdays at the Western North Carolina AIDS Project.
"So, we know that it is through blood contact that people can easily transmit hepatitis B or C, and the fact that we're seeing some more of these cases potentially could be that people do not have access, easy access, to needles. So, that's another issue to really address," WNCAP's Michael Harney said.
WNCAP exchanged 418,000 needles last year.
Untreated hepatitis B and C may result in long-term liver problems, chronic liver disease and elevated risk of liver cancer, the news release said. While hepatitis C is curable there is no vaccine. Vaccines are available for hepatitis A and B.