Logan County Department
of Public Health announces now testing for Hepatitis C
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[May 02, 2015]
LINCOLN
- The Logan County Department of Public Health is now testing for
Hepatitis C. This blood test will be available for persons who have
Medicaid, Medicare or any other form of insurance. If a person does not
have insurance to cover the fee, the out of pocket cost is $40 to be
paid at the time the service is provided.
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Hepatitis C is a chronic infection that affects an estimated 130
million to 150 million people and results in 350,000 to 500,000
deaths a year. Seventy-five percent of the 2.7 million Americans
infected with hepatitis C are baby boomers - persons born between
1945 and 1965. Most are not even aware they are infected. In
addition, most new hepatitis C infections are among injection drug
users, especially those under age 30. A specific blood test is the
only way to detect the hepatitis C virus.
The Hepatitis C virus attacks the liver. If left undiagnosed and
untreated, hepatitis C can lead to serious liver disease such as
cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. In recent years, U.S.
death rates due to chronic hepatitis C infection have outpaced death
rates due to HIV infection. Hepatitis C is spread from
blood-to-blood contact. The most common risks associated with
hepatitis C transmission are injection drug use, blood transfusion,
or organ transplantation prior to 1992. Approximately one-quarter of
HIV-infected persons are also infected with hepatitis C.
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The Logan County Department of Public Health is
open Monday-Friday from 7:30-4:30. Please call 217-735-2317 for
an appointment. Walk-in’s are welcome.
[Don Cavi, Public Health
Administrator, Logan County Department of Public Health]
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