Hepatitis C Epidemic

 

History of Blood & Byproduct Management

Table of Contents Includes:

• Red Cross & Industry  Roll

• Did Shots Cause Hepatitis C?
   

• Federal Agencies  & Government Actions

• Scientific Research & Journal Publications

• Legal Documents & Law Suits

• Media Reports & Documentaries
   

What you will learn...
The Hepatitis C epidemic is discovering what was. CDC reports that in 1988, 242,000 Hepatitis C infections were reported annually. However, Military infection rates, as any federal institutions, are not defined in this data. These high figures were reported in the 1950's and 60's, among military. High infection rates continued until effective solvents were discovered that rid HCV virus from environmental surfaces. September 1999, Sterilants and Disinfectants Applied and Environmental Microbiology, p. 4255-4260, Vol. 65, No. 90099-2240/99/$04.00+0 Bacterial Spores Survive Treatment with Commercial Sterilants and Disinfectants Hepatitis C Survives Treatment with Commercial Sterilants and Disinfectants

Since mandatory heating or washing of blood products and discontinuing the use of jetgun injections during mass vaccination, reused needles and vials; the annual number of new infections began to declined...

The HCV epidemic began out of the military need to address hepatitis during WWII; after an outbreak among troops that received experimental yellow fever vaccinations. Researchers discovered in 1977, that stored blood from infected soldiers were HCV positive as well, and labeled the new disease non-a non-b.

The hepatitis C epidemic has occurred because of the conditions that existed during the Cold War, Korean and Vietnam era's for processing blood, blood products and vaccines. Lack of ability to sterilize surfaces and devices widened the scope of disease transmission. The blood and blood based product development processes were not guided by the strict standards in place today.

The military personnel shared toothbrushes, manicure items, razors and rags. They had surgery, dental or medial, and received injections with reusable needles and/or syringes. All had finger sticks with reused lancets by technicians that did not wear gloves. Most were vaccinated by jet injection and many injected with reused bifurcated (two-pronged) needle that is dipped into the small pox vaccine solution, a blood based product.