Preventing unnecessary deaths: 5 notes on Hepatitis C

The World Health Organization is calling for action to prevent infections and deaths from Hepatitis C, according to the Big News Network.

Here are five notes:

1. Hepatitis is the seventh leading cause of death with 150 million people infected with Hepatitis C each year.

2. Hepatitis B and C cause 1.5 million deaths every year.

3. A drug is available to cure almost every case of hepatitis C. Public health officials are working to elimination all forms of hepatitis.

4. Many individuals around the world cannot afford the drugs to cure Hepatitis C. A 12-week course of treatment cost $84,000 in wealthier countries. WHO projects prices will decrease in the future.

5. WHO is advocating for the exclusive use of sterilized syringes designed to prevent reuse. This will hopefully eliminate unsafe injections, which contribute to the high prevalence of hepatitis.

More articles on quality & infection control:
QuantiaMD offers presentations to improve patient safety practices: 5 key points
Healthcare workers not following CDC recommendations for protective garment removal: 4 insights
Robotic surgery linked to 144 deaths, retrospective study says: 6 key notes

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 


Patient Safety Tools & Resources Database

Featured Webinars

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Podcast