HCV News
Week Ending 08/03/2015
Living with Hep C; the stigma, the mortality and the hope
'A woman who has been living with what she calls one of the most misunderstood and stigmatised diseases for almost 30 years has spoken out for the first time. 56 year old Janie Kibble from Tamworth in Northern NSW has lived through denial, faced her own mortality, and now at last has come to terms with the disease. Ms Kibble hopes by telling her story it will prompt a frank and open conversation in the community.
'Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the New Drug Application for grazoprevir/elbasvir (100mg/50mg), an investigational, once-daily, single-tablet combination therapy for the treatment of adult patients infected with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes (GT) 1, 4 or 6.'
New WFSJ initiative to help journalists report on staggering toll of HCV
'The World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) is launching a new initiative to help journalists report on the staggering toll of Hepatitis C (HCV) as well as the scientific and political barriers to treating the disease. To be launched on World Hepatitis Day (July 28, 2015), the new website presents resources written by journalists for journalists to expose the complex issues preventing effective prevention and treatment of the disease as well as a database of HCV experts from around the world who can be interviewed on a range of issues- from physician/scientists and patient groups, to public policy experts.'
Tuskegee launches hepatitis C virus testing initiative
'In honor of the third annual National African American Hepatitis C Action Day today, the City of Tuskegee is taking steps to eradicate the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in its community, beginning with testing. Mayor Johnny Ford of Tuskegee joined with national and local health leaders to discuss starting an initiative to diagnose and treat those infected with HCV in his area Friday morning.'
Cirrhosis in HCV patients may be underdiagnosed
'Cirrhosis was found to be underdiagnosed among patients with hepatitis C virus infection enrolled in the Chronic Hepatitis Cohort Study, according to new study data."Progression of chronic hepatitis C to cirrhosis occurs over a period of several years," the researchers wrote. "The identification of patients with cirrhosis may have significant implications pertaining to the management of [chronic hepatitis C] and health resource utilization.'
WHO encourages safe injection use to prevent HBV, HCV
'The organisation emphasises the need for all health services to reduce risks by using only sterile equipment for injections and other medical procedures, to test all donated blood and blood components for hepatitis B and C (as well as HIV and syphilis) and to promote the use of the hepatitis B vaccine.'
Spray paint muralists help remember those with hepatitis
'Globally, more than 4,000 people a day die from hepatitis in various forms. In remembrance of the lives lost to hepatitis, spray-paint muralists transformed the alley walls behind Owl and Orchid Tattoo in Denver into a sixty-foot span of art in honor of World Hepatitis Day 2015. The street art fair was organized by Denver's Hep C Connection to spotlight those who suffer with the deadly blood-borne virus that damages the liver, and to call attention to the need for more testing, awareness and advocacy.'
