Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. In the US, there are three main viruses that cause viral hepatitis – hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Hepatitis C-related deaths reached an all-time high in 2014 and in 2013 surpassed the total combined number of deaths from 60 other infectious diseases, [...]
Viral hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by a virus, the most common types being hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. More than five million Americans have chronic hepatitis B or C infections and about 75% of those infected are unaware. Viral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer and the most [...]
In the United States, there are more than five million people living with chronic viral hepatitis and over 50,000 new infections each year of hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Many people don't know they are infected. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and is often caused by the hepatitis A, B, or C virus. [...]
When you work in public health, you know it’s scary to get stuck by a needle in a trashcan, bathroom or another unexpected place. While needles and syringes are used for the medical treatment of multiple conditions such as arthritis, psoriasis, diabetes, and cancer, there is always the fear that a discarded needle also carries blood [...]
This week Governor Doug Ducey issued a proclamation for Arizona Blood Donation Week highlighting the importance of donating blood to save people’s lives. Back in 1969, an article titled "The Blood Bank as a Public Health Service" described blood donation as an altruistic service: one human helping another. The article suggested that benefits might extend to [...]
On September 17 we held the first ever Viral Hepatitis Summit sponsored by Hepatitis Foundation International (HFI). There were 85 healthcare personnel and public health professionals in attendance, including physicians, social workers, nurses and pharmacists from all over Arizona. Some of the topics included adhering to hepatitis B and C testing guidelines, accessing treatment for hepatitis C, and [...]
There’s a new CDC Sortable Stats web application that went live a couple of weeks ago that provides an interactive tool to analyze behavioral risk factors and health indicators compiled from various published CDC and federal sources. You can search by state for things like death rates (e.g. infant mortality, heart disease, motor vehicle death rates, [...]
The younger you are, the more likely you are to get a tattoo. In fact, a recent Pew Research poll found that 40% of people between the age of 18 and 29 have one these days. But if you’re thinking about it or your friend or adult child is- there are some important things to consider. I’ve [...]
Many of you have probably seen the signs around town about the Tattoo Expo that is happening this weekend in Phoenix. Tattoos have been growing in popularity over the past decade, but that doesn't mean they’re completely safe. Recently there was a recall of tattoo ink because the ink was contaminated with an unusual (and stubborn) bacteria [...]
Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released information about an infection some folks were getting because of the ink used in their tattoos. It reminds me that there are some good practices that folks who want tattoos can ask their artist about - I wrote about it last year in Tattoo You? Regardless [...]
