What is hepatitis C and why are so many people not receiving treatment for it?
survey of data that concluded far too many people lack access to treatment. High drug prices can limit the availability of the medication.If that weren’t bad enough, the CDC reckons around 40% of those with hepatitis C in the US are unaware of their status.
They have no idea of the serious damage it could be doing to their bodies.A breakthrough medication became available for hepatitis C in the early ’00s.
However, as this survey shows, a worrying number of US citizens have been unable to take advantage of it.Carolyn Wester, MD, MPH, director of the CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis, called the 34% cured figure “jarringly low” in a recent press conference to announce the results.
Those aged 20-29 were least likely to be cleared of the virus.Of the 1.7 million diagnosed with hepatitis C, half had commercial health insurance.
