The number of new hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections has tripled in just 5 years—to a 15-year high—but the true scale is only now being revealed, according to the CDC.
Limited surveillance resources have led to underreporting, the CDC says. The annual number of reported HCV cases does not reflect the reality of the epidemic. Although 850 cases were reported in 2010 and 2,436 cases in 2015, the CDC estimates 34,000 actual new infections in 2015.
About three-quarters of the 3.5 million Americans with HCV are baby boomers, born between 1945 and 1965. They’re 6 times more likely to be infected with HCV and are at greater risk of death due to HCV. But HCV infections are spreading most rapidly among young adults aged 20 to 29 years, the CDC says, primarily because of injection drug use associated with opioids.
Because of that dual threat of virus spread and the opioid epidemic, HHS-recommended strategies include using comprehensive syringe service programs (SSPs). One CDC study found that 80% of young people with HCV live > 10 miles from an SSP. Another study found that only 3 states have laws that support full access to SSPs and HCV-related treatment and preventive services for people who inject drugs.