FW: [HepC] Digest Number 146

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Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department

Examines Work Related Hepatitis C Risk

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department Examines Work

Related Hepatitis C Risk

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 27, 2000--

Study Finds Surprisingly Low Infection

Rate Among

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue

Personnel

Hep-C ALERT has announced the results of its

national pilot program

designed to determine the prevalence of the

Hepatitis C virus among

firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical

technicians. Testing of 94% of

Miami-Dade County's fire rescue workers revealed

an infection rate of 2.7%, a

rate much lower than experts had expected.

" Nationwide, about 1.8% of the entire

population tests positive for

antibodies to the Hepatitis C virus, " said Andi

, executive director of

Hep-C ALERT, the Florida-based non-profit

organization that conducted the

education, antibody screening and research

project. " We were preparing

ourselves to see a much higher chronic infection

rate because of the number

of large and repeated on-the-job blood exposures

before gloves and other

protective gear were used. " The Centers for

Disease Control in Atlanta

reported Hepatitis C infection rates of 1% - 2%

for healthcare workers, but

has not yet published information specific to

public safety, firefighters and

emergency medical workers.

Hep-C ALERT discovered that the 2.7% rate

among Miami-Dade Fire Rescue

personnel was closely associated with the

infection rate commonly found in

the 40 - 59 year old age group among the general

population. The study

revealed that 81% of fire-rescue workers who had

evidence of the Hepatitis C

infection had been exposed to another person's

blood or body fluid during the

course of their career. Only a small percentage of

personnel who tested

positive reported ever having a needle-stick

injury on the job.

" Although the very nature of our work in the

field puts us at higher risk

for all bloodborne infections, including Hepatitis

C, we are very pleased

that our personnel showed no increased rate of the

infection, " said Capt.

on of the Occupational Safety and

Health Bureau at Miami Dade

Fire Rescue Department. One reason the rate may be

lower than expected is

that MDFR is considered one of the most

progressive and advanced combined

fire and emergency rescue agencies in the country.

" Hep-C ALERT has played a major role in

protecting our workers and our

community by providing us the opportunity for

early detection and treatment

of this infection, " said on. " Hep-C ALERT

has been vital in raising

awareness and educating our employees on the risks

of Hepatitis C and the

steps that they can take to help prevent new

infections on the job. "

The Miami Dade Fire Rescue research project

was made possible through

collaboration with Gateway Laboratory, Pompano,

Fla. Gateway Laboratory

specializes in clinical trials and communicable

disease blood testing

services. Confirmatory blood tests were provided

by Bayer Diagnostics using

the company's new TMA Qualitative Assay for

Hepatitis C Virus, which,

according to , " provided the best and most

sensitive commercially

available test for confirmation of the infection. "

TMA testing was conducted

through Bayer's Reference Testing Laboratory. " The

support of these two

providers was crucial to the success of the

research study, " said.

Hepatitis C (HCV) is the most common

bloodborne viral infection in the

U.S. The virus is transmitted through exposure to

infected blood and can

cause serious, sometimes fatal liver disease.

Accurate testing wasn't

available until 1992.

Many of those infected with HCV are not aware

they carry the virus

because few symptoms occur until the disease has

progressed. Early detection

and treatment are important in fighting the

effects of the disease.

Hep-C ALERT, Inc. is a national non-profit

organization devoted to

Hepatitis C education, counseling health-risk

screening and research, and has

specialized in providing Fire Rescue education and

screening programs since

1998. The group can be reached toll free at

1-877-HELP-4-HEP.

CONTACT:

Nasca Associates, Aventura, Fla.

Nasca, 305/935-9993

Phil Weinbach, 305/740-8338

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