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On Friday, Democratic legislators and prisoner advocates promoted legislation to give the New York Health Department oversight over some aspects of the health care system for its 65,800 state prison inmates, mandating that the department assess the treatment of prisoners with HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. Corrections Commissioner Glenn Goord reports about 9,250 inmates have hepatitis C, 5,500 are HIV-positive, and more than 1,000 have AIDS. Assembly Corrections Committee Chair Jeffrion Aubry (D-Queens) and Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan), presided over the hearing. "The Health Department has no oversight or jurisdiction over DOCS facilities, unlike its authority to monitor care at other clinics and hospitals in the state," Gottfried said. But in his testimony, Goord said the nature of health care in prison is fundamentally different than in civilian facilities regulated by the Health Department. While prison officials are in constant contact with the Health Department about inmate health, direct Health Department oversight would not be practical, Goord said. "Taken as a whole, the department is confident that its medical care system is not only fundamentally sound, but a model for correctional systems throughout the country," Goord told legislators. Prison system spokesperson James Flateau noted that the department also follows the directives of CDC and the National Institutes of Health regarding prisoner health care. William Van Slyke, Health Department spokesperson, said his agency believes prison officials "generally do a good job" of providing health care to inmates. But inmate advocates and former inmates complained to legislators about inadequate prison health staffing, delays in appointments, cursory examinations, and the frequent distribution of Tylenol in response to health complaints.
We are providing the above information as a public service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases does not constitute endorsement. The above summaries were prepared without conducting any additional research or investigation into the facts and statements made in the articles being summarized, and therefore readers are expressly cautioned against relying on the validity or invalidity of any statements made in these summaries. This CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update also includes information from CDC and other government agencies, such as background on MMWR articles, fact sheets and announcements.
Hepatitis C Antibodies
up to 90 percent of those infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) have no symptoms at all it ranks second only to alcoholism as a cause of liver disease and is the leading reason for liver transplants in the United States. there is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C. In many cases, symptoms may not appear for up to 30 years. An estimated 3 percent of the world's population — more than 170 million people — carry a mysterious virus that silently attacks their livers, often without their knowledge. That's because up to 90 percent of those infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) have no symptoms at all. In fact, most people don't know they have the disease until decades later when liver damage shows up during routine medical tests. Sometimes people may learn they have hepatitis C when they try to donate blood, because blood banks now routinely screen for the virus. The liver — which weighs between 3 and 4 pounds — is the largest and most complex internal organ in your body. It sits behind your lower ribs on the right side of your abdomen and performs a variety of crucial functions — including detoxifying harmful substances, purifying your blood and manufacturing vital nutrients. Hepatitis C is one of six currently identified hepatitis viruses — the others are A, B, D, E and G. All cause the liver to become inflamed, which interferes with its ability to function. Hepatitis C is generally considered to be among the most serious of these viruses. In many cases, HCV leads to chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis — irreversible and potentially fatal scarring of the liver — liver cancer or liver failure. It ranks second only to alcoholism as a cause of liver disease and is the leading reason for liver transplants in the United States. Although vaccines are used for hepatitis A and B, there is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C. In addition, standard treatments for HCV are not universally effective, so the search for new treatments is ongoing. Normally, HCV produces no symptoms in its earliest stages. If you do have symptoms, they'll generally be mild and flulike. They include: Slight fatigue Nausea or poor appetite Muscle and joint pains Tenderness in the area of the liver Even if you develop chronic hepatitis from the hepatitis C virus, you may have few, if any, symptoms. In many cases, symptoms may not appear for up to 30 years. Sometimes, though, you may experience one or more of the following: Fatigue Lack of appetite Nausea and vomiting Persistent or recurring yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice) Low-grade fever Hepatitis C can cause damage to your liver even if you don't have symptoms. You're also able to pass the virus to others without having any symptoms yourself. That's why it's important to be tested if you think you've been exposed to hepatitis C or you engage in behavior that puts you at risk. Causes Blood transfusions Contaminated needles Tattooing and Body piercing Sexual activity |