A Public Health Approach to Hepatitis C in an Urban Setting

A Public Health Approach to Hepatitis C in an Urban Setting

How can the challenges of the HCV epidemic be met in a large urban environment? This study describes the rationale for and components of a public health approach to HCV infection in New York City.

September 14, 2017

A Public Health Approach to Hepatitis C in an Urban Setting

Fabienne Laraque, MD, MPH; Jay K. Varma, MD

Am J Public Health. 2017;107(6):922-926. 

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

The clinical consequences of HCV infection are increasing because the population with the highest prevalence of the infection, persons born between 1945 and 1965, is aging. As a result, health care expenditures are expected to increase.

Now that a cure for HCV infection is the norm, a public health approach is necessary to identify, link to care, and treat infected persons and prevent new infections. We believe that the success of public health interventions, such as those for tuberculosis, can be translated to HCV infection.

New York City has many HCV-infected residents and has developed a public health approach to controlling the HCV epidemic. It encompasses surveillance and monitoring, case finding, linkage to care, care coordination, increasing clinical provider capacity for screening and treatment, increasing public awareness, and primary prevention.

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