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|  5/23/2014 | National News  | New CDC Campaign Gets People Talking About HIV UNITED STATES :: HIV/AIDS
The Edge (Boston) (05.21.2014) :: By Winnie McCroy | | | The Edge reported that CDC launched a new national HIV prevention campaign, Start Talking. Stop HIV., that focuses on encouraging gay and bisexual men to talk openly about sexual health, HIV testing, and HIV status. The campaign includes videos, posters, a conversation cheat sheet, social media outreach, and an online question and answer forum.
Studies have found that open communication about sexual health does not occur in many relationships, even though research has shown these dialogues reduce risk behaviors. "Given the range of HIV prevention options available today, talking about HIV prevention has never been more important for gay and bisexual men," said Jonathan Mermin, MD, MPH, director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. Mermin added that open discussions allow partners to choose what sexual health strategies work best for them.
The largest HIV population burden is among men who have sex with men (MSM), with nearly two-thirds of new HIV infections in the United States among this group. Young African-American MSM are at highest risk for contracting HIV. Risk notwithstanding, a recent CDC study found that more than one-third of MSM were unaware of their last sexual partner’s HIV status.
CDC created the new campaign, part of its Act Against AIDS initiative, to combat American complacency about HIV and aims to reach all ages and races of MSM in any type of relationship. Informational material can be found at the campaign’s Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/actagainstaids/campaigns/starttalking/index.html. |  Read Full Article | Share this Article     | | Back to Top  |  | | | International News | Medical News  | Methadone Programs Key in HCV Education NEW YORK :: Viral Hepatitis
University at Buffalo (05.22.2014) :: By Ellen Goldbaum | | | The UB Reporter, the campus news source for the University at Buffalo (UB), the State University of New York, reported on a study regarding the attitudes of injecting drug users enrolled in a drug treatment program toward learning about hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Andrew H. Talal, senior author and professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at UB and adjunct associate professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, and colleagues surveyed 320 patients enrolled in a New York City methadone treatment program about their willingness to learn about HCV. Almost half of the participants reported they were infected with HCV.
Of the participants, 78 percent were willing to participate in an HCV education program and be treated for HCV infection. Participants reported that one barrier to receiving HCV treatment was fear of adverse effects from interferon, which is standard treatment for HCV genotype 1. According to Talal, injecting drug users have always wanted HCV treatment, but barriers existed at the patient, provider, and institutional levels. Patients were not educated about the disease, were afraid of side effects of interferon, were not comfortable visiting conventional healthcare medical offices, and did not know the status of their infection. Talal credits the change in attitudes of patients who inject drugs to knowledge of improved treatment efficacy and the ability to access HCV treatment at the same location as substance abuse treatment.
The Viral Hepatitis Action Coalition in collaboration with CDC funded the study, which is the initial stage of a larger study.
The full report, “Hepatitis C Virus-Related Knowledge and Willingness to Receive Treatment Among Patients on Methadone Maintenance,” was published online in the Journal of Addiction (2014; doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000041).
| | Read Full Article | Share this Article | | Back to Top | | | Local and Community News  | Hepatitis C Tests Urged for Nearly 1,000 Clark County Patients Possibly Exposed to Virus OREGON :: Viral Hepatitis
The Oregonian (Portland) (05.20.2014) :: By Helen Jung | | | The Oregonian reported that the PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Clark County, Washington, sent nearly 1,000 letters this week to patients informing them of a possible hepatitis C exposure by a former hospital employee, and encouraged them to get tested for the disease. The former employee, who worked at the medical center from 2012 to 2014 and is under investigation, is suspected of personally using drugs that were prescribed for patients.
Health officials have no evidence the employee, whose name and hepatitis status have not been released, exposed anyone, but want to be sure the employee did not transmit any infection. The hospital said it will cover the cost of testing and has created a Web site with information regarding hepatitis C as well as testing site locations.
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infection that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. According to Theresa Cross, with Clark County Public Health, using one needle on more than one patient can transmit the disease. Approximately 15,000 deaths related to hepatitis C occur each year. Patients can get additional information at www.peacehealth.org/HepC, by sending an email to HepC@peacehealth.org, or by calling the patient care support line at (360) 729–2000. | | Read Full Article | Share this Article | | Back to Top | | | | News Briefs | | | | |
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