FW: HEPATITIS A FOR ALL INFANTS RECOMMENDED BY CDC

[Guest guest]

>Well here's another one!

>

>Subject: HEPATITIS A FOR ALL INFANTS RECOMMENDED BY CDC

>

>

>cdc researcher calls for routine hav vaccination of infants

>March 17, 1998

>

>All infants in the United States should be vaccinated for hepatitis A,

a

>U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researcher said.

> " Ultimately I believe that hepatitis A vaccine should be incorporated

>into the routine infant vaccination schedule, " Ian of the CDC

>told a group gathered at the Digestive Health Initiative (DHI) National

>Hepatitis Summit, held February 24, 1998 in Washington, D.C..

> " Only then will we make true progress in eliminating hepatitis A in the

>United States. "

>

>Hepatitis A vaccine is currently recommended for those at increased

risk

>such as travellers to endemic countries, people with occupational

risks,

>homosexual men, those

>with chronic liver disease, and endemic populations within the United

>States (native

>Americans, Alaskan natives, Hispanics). Native Americans are 10 times

>more likely

>than other groups to be infected with the hepatitis A virus.

>

>The vaccine is also being given to those who live in communities which

>have experienced

>outbreaks of hepatitis A, but routine vaccination of infants remains

>somewhat

>controversial. While the CDC has not officially called for extending

>HAV vaccination to all newborns in the U.S., and other

>hepatitis experts speaking at the summit said it is time to do so.

>Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is an acute illness characterized by flu-like

>symptoms that affects roughly 200,000 Americans annually. The disease

>usually lasts about three weeks but can linger up to six months. It

>typically does not result in serious or long-term health problems,

>except for people who already have liver damage from another form of

>hepatitis or other liver disease.

>

>Approximately 33 percent of Americans have evidence of past hepatitis A

>infection.

>The virus is spread almost exclusively through the fecal-oral route and

>this is why

>areas without good sanitation networks are at the biggest risk. At a

>press conference called to announce the DHI three-year hepatitis

>education initiative Eugene Schiff of Florida's University of Miami

>echoed ' sentiments that hepatitis A vaccination is warranted

in

>all newborns. He said, however, that universal infant vaccination will

>probably not occur until more testing is done.

>

> " CDC is not yet calling for infant vaccinations because most of the

>studies have been done in children who were two-years-old or older, " he

>said. " But I think we will eventually see widespread vaccination in

>young people. We're not there yet, though. We have to do more studies

in

>newborns and get the price down. " pointed to the success

>achieved in vaccinating infants against hepatitis B virus (HBV).

>Universal infant vaccination for hepatitis B is now recommended, and a

>recent study showed that more than 80 percent of newborns in the United

>States receive HBV vaccination.

>

> " We are doing a very good job vaccinating infants, but we have to do a

>better job of

>vaccinating children and adolescents and adults in high risk groups, "

> said.

>HBV is often a chronic infection which affects between 140,000 and

>300,000 people

>in the United States annually. It is estimated that 6,000 deaths per

>year are due to

>chronic liver disease and primary liver cancer caused by hepatitis B

>infection.

>The incidence of hepatitis B increased steadily through 1985, and then

>began to

>decline dramatically due to the availability of a HBV vaccine. After

>almost a decade of decline, however, hepatitis B numbers are beginning

>to creep up again, primarily due to increases observed among the three

>major risk groups: sexually active heterosexuals, homosexual men, and

>injection drug users.

>

>Increasing HBV vaccinations among these high risk groups,

said,

>would be a

>major step in preventing hepatitis B-related disease. The biggest goal

>within the hepatitis community, however, is the advent of a vaccine and

>more effective therapies to

>prevent and treat hepatitis C disease. Until that happens,

>said, screening

>efforts need to be improved so that those who are infected recognize

>their risk.

>The majority of new hepatitis C infections occur in young adults who

may

>not learn for

>decades that they are infected. Hepatitis C is a progressive infection

>that

>attacks the liver more slowly than hepatitis B, but also can lead to

>cirrhosis, liver cancer and death. Up to 85 percent of people exposed

to

>HCV develop chronic infection.

>

>There are an estimated 4 million Americans with chronic HCV infection,

>and each year

>approximately 8,000 to 10,000 die of liver disease or hepatocellular

>carcinoma caused

>by the infection. Morbidity and mortality from HCV-related disease are

>predicted to rise to epidemic proportions over the next decade.

>estimated that as many as half of all chronic liver disease cases in

the

>U.S. can be attributed to hepatitis C infection. " Of those infected

>more than 10 years ago, roughly half were infected through blood

>transfusions. More recently, about 60 percent of new HCV cases are

>associated with illegal drug use and 15 to 20 percent are associated

>with sexual transmission, " he said. Hepatitis experts warn that aging

>baby boomers who experimented with drugs in the 1960s and 1970s are

>among those at the biggest risk for hepatitis C disease today.

>

>Those who were infected with HCV years ago due to casual drug use may

>just now be

>manifesting the symptoms and diseases associated with longtime

>infection, including

>cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. CDC now

recommends

>routine screening of those who have injected illegal drugs even once.

> estimated that 50 to 90 percent of these people are infected

>with HCV virus. Other groups recommended for testing include:

>

>* People who received clotting factor prior to 1987 (97 percent are

>believed infected with HCV).

>

>* People who had blood transfusions prior to 1992 (6 percent are

>believed infected).

>

>* Those who have been on chronic hemodialysis (10 to 20 percent) are

>believed

>infected.

>

>*********************************************************

>Karin Schumacher

>Vaccine Information & Awareness (VIA)

>12799 La Tortola

>San Diego, CA 92129

>619-484-3197 (phone/voicemail)

>619-484-1187 (fax)

>via@... (email)

>http://www.909shot.com (NVIC website)

>http://www.access1.net/via (VIA website)

>*********************************************************

>We Must Have The Freedom To Choose &

>Respect Everyone's Choice

>*********************************************************

>Any information obtained here is not to be construed as

>medical OR legal advice. The decision to vaccinate and how

>you implement that decision is yours and yours alone.

>*********************************************************

>

>-----------------------------------------------------------------

>Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA wwithin@...

>Well Within's Earth Mysteries & Sacred Site Tours

>Nevada City California

>http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin

>International Tours, Weekend Wellness Retreats, Workshops, Homestudy

Courses,

>Homeopathic Education, Vaccine Dangers Information/Workshops

>CEU's for nurses, Books & Multi-Pure Water Filters

>

>

[Guest guest]

>Well here's another one!

>

>Subject: HEPATITIS A FOR ALL INFANTS RECOMMENDED BY CDC

>

>

>cdc researcher calls for routine hav vaccination of infants

>March 17, 1998

>

>All infants in the United States should be vaccinated for hepatitis A,

a

>U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researcher said.

> " Ultimately I believe that hepatitis A vaccine should be incorporated

>into the routine infant vaccination schedule, " Ian of the CDC

>told a group gathered at the Digestive Health Initiative (DHI) National

>Hepatitis Summit, held February 24, 1998 in Washington, D.C..

> " Only then will we make true progress in eliminating hepatitis A in the

>United States. "

>

>Hepatitis A vaccine is currently recommended for those at increased

risk

>such as travellers to endemic countries, people with occupational

risks,

>homosexual men, those

>with chronic liver disease, and endemic populations within the United

>States (native

>Americans, Alaskan natives, Hispanics). Native Americans are 10 times

>more likely

>than other groups to be infected with the hepatitis A virus.

>

>The vaccine is also being given to those who live in communities which

>have experienced

>outbreaks of hepatitis A, but routine vaccination of infants remains

>somewhat

>controversial. While the CDC has not officially called for extending

>HAV vaccination to all newborns in the U.S., and other

>hepatitis experts speaking at the summit said it is time to do so.

>Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is an acute illness characterized by flu-like

>symptoms that affects roughly 200,000 Americans annually. The disease

>usually lasts about three weeks but can linger up to six months. It

>typically does not result in serious or long-term health problems,

>except for people who already have liver damage from another form of

>hepatitis or other liver disease.

>

>Approximately 33 percent of Americans have evidence of past hepatitis A

>infection.

>The virus is spread almost exclusively through the fecal-oral route and

>this is why

>areas without good sanitation networks are at the biggest risk. At a

>press conference called to announce the DHI three-year hepatitis

>education initiative Eugene Schiff of Florida's University of Miami

>echoed ' sentiments that hepatitis A vaccination is warranted

in

>all newborns. He said, however, that universal infant vaccination will

>probably not occur until more testing is done.

>

> " CDC is not yet calling for infant vaccinations because most of the

>studies have been done in children who were two-years-old or older, " he

>said. " But I think we will eventually see widespread vaccination in

>young people. We're not there yet, though. We have to do more studies

in

>newborns and get the price down. " pointed to the success

>achieved in vaccinating infants against hepatitis B virus (HBV).

>Universal infant vaccination for hepatitis B is now recommended, and a

>recent study showed that more than 80 percent of newborns in the United

>States receive HBV vaccination.

>

> " We are doing a very good job vaccinating infants, but we have to do a

>better job of

>vaccinating children and adolescents and adults in high risk groups, "

> said.

>HBV is often a chronic infection which affects between 140,000 and

>300,000 people

>in the United States annually. It is estimated that 6,000 deaths per

>year are due to

>chronic liver disease and primary liver cancer caused by hepatitis B

>infection.

>The incidence of hepatitis B increased steadily through 1985, and then

>began to

>decline dramatically due to the availability of a HBV vaccine. After

>almost a decade of decline, however, hepatitis B numbers are beginning

>to creep up again, primarily due to increases observed among the three

>major risk groups: sexually active heterosexuals, homosexual men, and

>injection drug users.

>

>Increasing HBV vaccinations among these high risk groups,

said,

>would be a

>major step in preventing hepatitis B-related disease. The biggest goal

>within the hepatitis community, however, is the advent of a vaccine and

>more effective therapies to

>prevent and treat hepatitis C disease. Until that happens,

>said, screening

>efforts need to be improved so that those who are infected recognize

>their risk.

>The majority of new hepatitis C infections occur in young adults who

may

>not learn for

>decades that they are infected. Hepatitis C is a progressive infection

>that

>attacks the liver more slowly than hepatitis B, but also can lead to

>cirrhosis, liver cancer and death. Up to 85 percent of people exposed

to

>HCV develop chronic infection.

>

>There are an estimated 4 million Americans with chronic HCV infection,

>and each year

>approximately 8,000 to 10,000 die of liver disease or hepatocellular

>carcinoma caused

>by the infection. Morbidity and mortality from HCV-related disease are

>predicted to rise to epidemic proportions over the next decade.

>estimated that as many as half of all chronic liver disease cases in

the

>U.S. can be attributed to hepatitis C infection. " Of those infected

>more than 10 years ago, roughly half were infected through blood

>transfusions. More recently, about 60 percent of new HCV cases are

>associated with illegal drug use and 15 to 20 percent are associated

>with sexual transmission, " he said. Hepatitis experts warn that aging

>baby boomers who experimented with drugs in the 1960s and 1970s are

>among those at the biggest risk for hepatitis C disease today.

>

>Those who were infected with HCV years ago due to casual drug use may

>just now be

>manifesting the symptoms and diseases associated with longtime

>infection, including

>cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. CDC now

recommends

>routine screening of those who have injected illegal drugs even once.

> estimated that 50 to 90 percent of these people are infected

>with HCV virus. Other groups recommended for testing include:

>

>* People who received clotting factor prior to 1987 (97 percent are

>believed infected with HCV).

>

>* People who had blood transfusions prior to 1992 (6 percent are

>believed infected).

>

>* Those who have been on chronic hemodialysis (10 to 20 percent) are

>believed

>infected.

>

>