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CDC to Baby Boomers . . . Get tested for hepatitis C?

~ The Rebel ~ 2012/08/18 20:03:44
All Baby Boomers should get a one-time blood test to learn if they have the liver-destroying hepatitis C virus, U.S. health officials said Thursday.

It can take decades for the blood-borne virus to cause liver damage and symptoms to emerge, so many people don’t know they’re harboring it. Baby Boomers account for about two-thirds of the estimated 3.2 million infected Americans.

+5

Read More: http://bighealthreport.com/4473/cdc-to-baby-boomer...

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  • RJ~PWCM~JLA 2012/08/18 20:14:09
    RJ~PWCM~JLA
    +5
    I've heard these commercials, and there's one odd thing about this -

    If most people don't know they have it, and show no symptoms, how in the hell can the CDC "estimate" that 3.2 million people are infected?

    Or is that what they call in the medical profession a WAG (wild ass guess)?
    >> See Replies

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  • Butch 2012/08/22 08:31:52
    Butch
    +1
    Already have been tested. Also have had the vaccines for Hep A,B,C. Used to be an EMT and as such you have to get all three vaccines.
    reply
  • Flamingolady 2012/08/19 04:06:57
    Flamingolady
    +1
    Not a problem for me. I have a genetic disorder of the blood, but not Hep C. Mine is from both parents, and just found out I have it.
    reply
  • stevmackey 2012/08/19 03:52:14
    stevmackey
    +1
    I missed that one.
    reply
  • Don Leuty 2012/08/19 02:46:41
    Don Leuty
    Good idea.
    reply
  • ~ The R... Don Leuty 2012/08/19 17:19:09
    ~ The Rebel ~
    +2
    Wouldn't you think there'd be some type of guidelines? (Like if you've had a transfusion) I find it appalling that they think all boomers need to get tested...

    There's no cure for aids ~ should everybody be tested for that next?
    reply
  • Don Leuty ~ The R... 2012/08/20 04:33:42
    Don Leuty
    Many baby boomers experimented with various forms of high-risk behavior. The list is probably so broad as to warrant the shotgun approach. The 70's were the lovechild age. The dawning of Aquarius wasn't the only thing that sprang up.
    reply
  • ~ The R... Don Leuty 2012/08/20 04:45:46
    ~ The Rebel ~
    And you think the current teenagers are not just as high-risk?
    reply
  • Don Leuty ~ The R... 2012/08/20 05:09:38
    Don Leuty
    Nope. They are probably next. The number of tats alone put them at risk, not to mention the risks associated with body piercing. The beautiful people may find they are not as beautiful as the wanted to be.
    reply
  • beachbum 2012/08/19 00:05:11
    beachbum
    +2
    Yeah, well..........
    reply
  • jubil8 BN-0 PON 2012/08/18 22:18:13
    jubil8 BN-0 PON
    +4
    Why are Boomers being singled out for a test?

    This is a very silly suggestion imo. Does some drug company have a nice, expensive vaccine waiting?
    reply
  • Muskoka jubil8 ... 2012/08/19 05:44:50
    Muskoka
    +1
    It can be spread through sharing needles by drug users or by transfusions.
    reply
  • Don Leuty jubil8 ... 2012/08/20 04:36:06
    Don Leuty
    Remember the '70s? Supersmack and group needles were not low-risk ventures.
    reply
  • rightside 2012/08/18 22:14:20
    rightside
    +2
    I'll take my chances.
    reply
  • Don Leuty rightside 2012/08/20 04:38:15
    Don Leuty
    That is your choice. If you had any high-risk behaviour in the '70's, it might be wiser to be safe than sorry.
    reply
  • ~ The R... Don Leuty 2012/08/20 04:45:07
    ~ The Rebel ~
    +1
    Explain to me how you're gonna be safe? If you've lived with it all these years and there is no cure what difference would it make whether you have it or not...
    reply
  • rightside Don Leuty 2012/08/20 05:10:32
    rightside
    +2
    Yes, it is. I never shared needles and my husband's been my partner for over 40 years.
    reply
  • Don Leuty rightside 2012/08/20 05:12:47
    Don Leuty
    +1
    Congratulations. Peace of mind is wonderful, isn't it? Take care and God bless.
    reply
  • rightside Don Leuty 2012/08/20 05:13:37
    rightside
    +2
    You too Don!
    reply
  • Kat 2012/08/18 20:23:08
    Kat
    +3
    Yeah, estimated how if they show no signs.
    reply
  • ~ The R... Kat 2012/08/18 20:29:04
    ~ The Rebel ~
    +2
    Wishful thinking on their part? I'd be scared of what I'd end up with if I had the test...
    reply
  • Kat ~ The R... 2012/08/18 20:34:19
    Kat
    +4
    I'd be scared of what their ulterior motives are, DNA sampling..compatibility tests?
    reply
  • Muskoka Kat 2012/08/19 05:46:08
    Muskoka
    Some people are just plain paranoid. You can get help for that .
    reply
  • Kat Muskoka 2012/08/19 12:45:10
    Kat
    +3
    And some people know what's coming. Troll elsewhere, like Canadian questions.
    reply
  • Muskoka Kat 2012/08/19 17:08:46
    Muskoka
    Conspiracies are an American phenomena and that is where they are creates.

    Why People Believe Conspiracy Theories
    http://www.scientificamerican...
    reply
  • Kat Muskoka 2012/08/20 11:29:22
    Kat
    +2
    BS
    reply
  • Muskoka Kat 2012/08/21 01:38:25
    Muskoka
    So you know more than everyone else does. HILARIOUS. Just another conspiracy you are now a believer in. LOL
    reply
  • Kat Muskoka 2012/08/21 01:46:56
  • Don Leuty Kat 2012/08/20 04:39:17
    Don Leuty
    +1
    Some humans are dormant carriers. Hep is like a time bomb with a blind timer.
    reply
  • RJ~PWCM~JLA 2012/08/18 20:14:09
    RJ~PWCM~JLA
    +5
    I've heard these commercials, and there's one odd thing about this -

    If most people don't know they have it, and show no symptoms, how in the hell can the CDC "estimate" that 3.2 million people are infected?

    Or is that what they call in the medical profession a WAG (wild ass guess)?
    reply
  • j2 RJ~PWCM... 2012/08/18 21:36:20
    j2
    +1
    Well, if I was trying to do it, I'd grab a population sample; test the blood and extrapolate based on proportion of those represented to the entire population based on sample and population demographics.
    reply
  • RJ~PWCM... j2 2012/08/18 21:48:11
    RJ~PWCM~JLA
    +2
    Right. But if they conducted such a study, I'd expect them to mention it in their advertising, to give the claim more credibility. I don't see any mention of such a study on their website either, unless I'm missing it.

    And it would have to be based on a population sample, as you say, and not just on reported cases, to be valid.
    reply
  • j2 RJ~PWCM... 2012/08/18 21:53:38
    j2
    +4
    You could use reported cases (quicker & cheaper), but given some demographics would be very poorly represented, the prediction would have greater uncertainty.

    Drug companies like to sell their wares, however. Selling a disease makes them more money than curing it.
    reply
  • RJ~PWCM... j2 2012/08/18 22:09:12
    RJ~PWCM~JLA
    +2
    yep, very true these days!
    reply
  • Muskoka j2 2012/08/19 05:46:41
    Muskoka
    +2
    There is no cure for Hep C
    reply
  • Don Leuty RJ~PWCM... 2012/08/20 04:41:34
    Don Leuty
    +1
    Actually, it is a SWAG estimate.
    reply
  • RJ~PWCM... Don Leuty 2012/08/20 11:36:05
    RJ~PWCM~JLA
    +2
    lol
    reply
  • Butch RJ~PWCM... 2012/08/22 08:35:21
    Butch
    Tsk Tsk, oh ye of little faith...in our government. Perhaps a wise precaution, perhaps foolhardy.
    reply

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