WV LEADS NATION WITH HEPATITIS B - Needle Sharing Spreads Disease

(05/20/2010)

West Virginia has the the highest incidence of hepatitis B per 100,000 residents, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control. The state had 4.5 cases of acute hepatitis B for every 100,000 residents in 2007. West Virginia counties with the highest rates of hepatitis in 2009 were Berkeley, Mercer, Logan, Cabell and Kanawha. Officials said the sharing of needles and other equipment for drug use is the biggest factor in spreading the disease. Hepatitis B is an illness caused by a virus that infects the liver. It causes liver inflammation, jaundice and vomiting, though it is rarely fatal. Cirrhosis and liver cancer can result. In addition to sharing needles, the risk factors for hepatitis include having unprotected sex. Sandra Graham, coordinator of the Adult Viral Hepatitis Program, said vaccines are available for hepatitis B. "To date, we have 30 health departments that offer free vaccines, two jails and two substance abuse centers," Graham said. Graham said the number of vaccines administered at these venues rose 37 percent from 2008 to 2009 with 2,513 doses of the vaccine administered last year.

Hur Herald ®from Sunny Cal The information on these pages, to the extent the law allows, remains the exclusive property of Bob Weaver and Dianne Weaver The Hur Herald. All information may be freely used but must not be sold or used in any type of commercial endeavor, or used on any web site without the express permission of the owners ©Bob and Dianne Weaver, The Hur Herald, 1999, 2000, 2001