Hepatitis C on the rise in Rhode Island

By Ana Bottary

abottary@abc6.com

@anabottary

Hepatitis C is on the rise in Rhode Island, according to a study released by the Rhode Island Department of Health.
 
"The main findings were, that in Rhode Island over the last decade we’ve seen significant increases in hepatitis C related hospitalizations and also hepatitis C related death,” says Health Department Spokesman, Joseph Wendelken.

Wendelken, says to put things into perspective, in Rhode Island there were 25 hepatitis c-related deaths in 2005, that number jumped to 102 in 2014.

"Roughly 75% of people who have hepatitis C in the U.S. are baby boomers,” says Wendelken.

IV-drug users are also susceptible. The Department of Health is urging those at risk to get tested, because the outcome of the disease does not have to be grim.

“There has been a tremendous amount of research. We’ve made some serious developments in the last two years, that have now made medication available that can cure hepatitis C.” Wendelken adds.

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