WISCONSIN: Hepatitis C Cases in Region on the Rise

[Guest guest]

CDC 07-15-11

WISCONSIN: " Hepatitis C Cases in Region on the Rise "

Wausau Daily Herald (07.05.11):: Madden

CDC and the state Department of Health Services are working with health

officials in six central and northern Wisconsin counties to determine why new

hepatitis C virus infections are increasing among those under age 30. In Wood,

Portage, Marathon, Langlade, Lincoln, and Oneida counties, new HCV cases in

young people have more than doubled, said Joanie Kuennen, Wood County public

health nurse. In 2009-10, the six-county area averaged 27 cases annually, up

from 12.2 annually during 2004-2008.

The state and federal agencies provided county health officials a survey to help

the investigation identify any commonalities among the cases, Kuennen said.

“It’s happening nationwide; it’s not just Wisconsin, or the northern region,”

she said.

One potential cause is an increase in injection drug use, Kuennen said. Illicit

drugs such as heroin are now cheaper than some prescription drugs of abuse, such

as oxycodone.

Heroin use is becoming more socially accepted, said Sgt. Saeger, Wood

County Sheriff’s Department investigator.

People who inject should use clean needles and never share equipment, Kuennen

said. They can get connected to a needle-exchange program by contacting the

local health department. “I never ask their names,” Kuennen said. “I’ll be happy

to give the contact information to them; this disease needs to stop.”

Kuennen recommends that anyone who has ever shared a needle get tested for HCV.

In addition, patrons of tattoo or body piercing shops should make sure the

operator is state-certified and inspected, she said.

[Guest guest]

CDC 07-15-11

WISCONSIN: " Hepatitis C Cases in Region on the Rise "

Wausau Daily Herald (07.05.11):: Madden

CDC and the state Department of Health Services are working with health

officials in six central and northern Wisconsin counties to determine why new

hepatitis C virus infections are increasing among those under age 30. In Wood,

Portage, Marathon, Langlade, Lincoln, and Oneida counties, new HCV cases in

young people have more than doubled, said Joanie Kuennen, Wood County public

health nurse. In 2009-10, the six-county area averaged 27 cases annually, up

from 12.2 annually during 2004-2008.

The state and federal agencies provided county health officials a survey to help

the investigation identify any commonalities among the cases, Kuennen said.

“It’s happening nationwide; it’s not just Wisconsin, or the northern region,”

she said.

One potential cause is an increase in injection drug use, Kuennen said. Illicit

drugs such as heroin are now cheaper than some prescription drugs of abuse, such

as oxycodone.

Heroin use is becoming more socially accepted, said Sgt. Saeger, Wood

County Sheriff’s Department investigator.

People who inject should use clean needles and never share equipment, Kuennen

said. They can get connected to a needle-exchange program by contacting the

local health department. “I never ask their names,” Kuennen said. “I’ll be happy

to give the contact information to them; this disease needs to stop.”

Kuennen recommends that anyone who has ever shared a needle get tested for HCV.

In addition, patrons of tattoo or body piercing shops should make sure the

operator is state-certified and inspected, she said.