13.8 Percent in Prisons Infected with Hepatitis C - Michigan

[Guest guest]

CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update

Friday, April 23, 2004

MICHIGAN:

" Study: 13.8 Percent in Prisons Infected with Hepatitis C "

Lansing State Journal (04.23.04)::Stacey Range

A preliminary study of 650 new male and female Michigan

prisoners during January-March found 13.8 percent were infected

with hepatitis C virus (HCV), an infection rate suggesting some

6,800 of the state's inmates could be infected. In response,

Corrections Department officials are asking lawmakers for $2.3

million to test and treat 465 inmates in 2005 and $11 million for

2006 to treat another 3,720 prisoners. The rest would be monitored

and treated as warranted. About 55 prisoners now receive

treatment.

Critics are skeptical of the HCV-infection rate study, which

shows rates much lower than similar prison studies showing HCV-

infection rates of 20-40 percent in other states. A Lansing State

Journal special report in September said that up to 18,000

Michigan prisoners are HCV-infected.

" My gut instinct is that there's something wrong with this

study, " said Santacroce, a University of Michigan law

professor studying several cases where inmates have been denied

treatment. " There's just no reason why Michigan would be so much

lower than any other state. "

Of 50 women tested, 34 percent were HCV-infected compared

with almost 12 percent of the 600 male volunteers among 1,800 new

inmates. The study among men was performed twice to check that no

mistakes were made. Experts are sorting through the study to

determine any source of anomaly, said prison officials, who added

that the results seemed solid. It could be sent to the state

Legislature, which mandated the study at a cost of $30,000, by

Tuesday.

To treat HCV-infected inmates, Gov. Granholm

proposed $5.9 million for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

However, state senators rejected the proposal out of concern for

Michigan's $1.3 billion shortfall and provided only $100 for HCV

testing and treatment. They left open the possibility of restoring

the funding. Prison officials said it could cost $130 million

annually to treat every infected inmate.

[Guest guest]

CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update

Friday, April 23, 2004

MICHIGAN:

" Study: 13.8 Percent in Prisons Infected with Hepatitis C "

Lansing State Journal (04.23.04)::Stacey Range

A preliminary study of 650 new male and female Michigan

prisoners during January-March found 13.8 percent were infected

with hepatitis C virus (HCV), an infection rate suggesting some

6,800 of the state's inmates could be infected. In response,

Corrections Department officials are asking lawmakers for $2.3

million to test and treat 465 inmates in 2005 and $11 million for

2006 to treat another 3,720 prisoners. The rest would be monitored

and treated as warranted. About 55 prisoners now receive

treatment.

Critics are skeptical of the HCV-infection rate study, which

shows rates much lower than similar prison studies showing HCV-

infection rates of 20-40 percent in other states. A Lansing State

Journal special report in September said that up to 18,000

Michigan prisoners are HCV-infected.

" My gut instinct is that there's something wrong with this

study, " said Santacroce, a University of Michigan law

professor studying several cases where inmates have been denied

treatment. " There's just no reason why Michigan would be so much

lower than any other state. "

Of 50 women tested, 34 percent were HCV-infected compared

with almost 12 percent of the 600 male volunteers among 1,800 new

inmates. The study among men was performed twice to check that no

mistakes were made. Experts are sorting through the study to

determine any source of anomaly, said prison officials, who added

that the results seemed solid. It could be sent to the state

Legislature, which mandated the study at a cost of $30,000, by

Tuesday.

To treat HCV-infected inmates, Gov. Granholm

proposed $5.9 million for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

However, state senators rejected the proposal out of concern for

Michigan's $1.3 billion shortfall and provided only $100 for HCV

testing and treatment. They left open the possibility of restoring

the funding. Prison officials said it could cost $130 million

annually to treat every infected inmate.

[Guest guest]

CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update

Friday, April 23, 2004

MICHIGAN:

" Study: 13.8 Percent in Prisons Infected with Hepatitis C "

Lansing State Journal (04.23.04)::Stacey Range

A preliminary study of 650 new male and female Michigan

prisoners during January-March found 13.8 percent were infected

with hepatitis C virus (HCV), an infection rate suggesting some

6,800 of the state's inmates could be infected. In response,

Corrections Department officials are asking lawmakers for $2.3

million to test and treat 465 inmates in 2005 and $11 million for

2006 to treat another 3,720 prisoners. The rest would be monitored

and treated as warranted. About 55 prisoners now receive

treatment.

Critics are skeptical of the HCV-infection rate study, which

shows rates much lower than similar prison studies showing HCV-

infection rates of 20-40 percent in other states. A Lansing State

Journal special report in September said that up to 18,000

Michigan prisoners are HCV-infected.

" My gut instinct is that there's something wrong with this

study, " said Santacroce, a University of Michigan law

professor studying several cases where inmates have been denied

treatment. " There's just no reason why Michigan would be so much

lower than any other state. "

Of 50 women tested, 34 percent were HCV-infected compared

with almost 12 percent of the 600 male volunteers among 1,800 new

inmates. The study among men was performed twice to check that no

mistakes were made. Experts are sorting through the study to

determine any source of anomaly, said prison officials, who added

that the results seemed solid. It could be sent to the state

Legislature, which mandated the study at a cost of $30,000, by

Tuesday.

To treat HCV-infected inmates, Gov. Granholm

proposed $5.9 million for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

However, state senators rejected the proposal out of concern for

Michigan's $1.3 billion shortfall and provided only $100 for HCV

testing and treatment. They left open the possibility of restoring

the funding. Prison officials said it could cost $130 million

annually to treat every infected inmate.

[Guest guest]

CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update

Friday, April 23, 2004

MICHIGAN:

" Study: 13.8 Percent in Prisons Infected with Hepatitis C "

Lansing State Journal (04.23.04)::Stacey Range

A preliminary study of 650 new male and female Michigan

prisoners during January-March found 13.8 percent were infected

with hepatitis C virus (HCV), an infection rate suggesting some

6,800 of the state's inmates could be infected. In response,

Corrections Department officials are asking lawmakers for $2.3

million to test and treat 465 inmates in 2005 and $11 million for

2006 to treat another 3,720 prisoners. The rest would be monitored

and treated as warranted. About 55 prisoners now receive

treatment.

Critics are skeptical of the HCV-infection rate study, which

shows rates much lower than similar prison studies showing HCV-

infection rates of 20-40 percent in other states. A Lansing State

Journal special report in September said that up to 18,000

Michigan prisoners are HCV-infected.

" My gut instinct is that there's something wrong with this

study, " said Santacroce, a University of Michigan law

professor studying several cases where inmates have been denied

treatment. " There's just no reason why Michigan would be so much

lower than any other state. "

Of 50 women tested, 34 percent were HCV-infected compared

with almost 12 percent of the 600 male volunteers among 1,800 new

inmates. The study among men was performed twice to check that no

mistakes were made. Experts are sorting through the study to

determine any source of anomaly, said prison officials, who added

that the results seemed solid. It could be sent to the state

Legislature, which mandated the study at a cost of $30,000, by

Tuesday.

To treat HCV-infected inmates, Gov. Granholm

proposed $5.9 million for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

However, state senators rejected the proposal out of concern for

Michigan's $1.3 billion shortfall and provided only $100 for HCV

testing and treatment. They left open the possibility of restoring

the funding. Prison officials said it could cost $130 million

annually to treat every infected inmate.