MAY 19 free hepatitis C testing

DENVER, May 14, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new cure is possible for tens of thousands of Coloradans infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) – a silent killer responsible for most cases of liver disease, cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer in the United States. But, the vast majority of those infected don't know they have the virus.

"The great news is that new treatments approved by the FDA in the last two years have up to a 95 percent cure rate," says Nancy Steinfurth, executive director for Denver's Hep C Connection. "Hepatitis C can now be cured in most patients."

People who have HCV may have no symptoms or they may have "flu-like" symptoms. They may have stomachaches, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weight loss, and in some cases jaundice – a yellow appearance of the eyes or skin.

On May 19 – Annual National Hepatitis Testing Day – Hep C Connection and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, in partnership with other non-profits and public health organizations, will host free testing for anyone concerned they may have HCV. The fast-response test requires a quick finger prick, and results are returned in 20 minutes. Those who test positive will be given information and resources for follow-up testing and care. Hepatitis C is a blood-borne illness that has infected an estimated 70,000 Coloradans. To date, no vaccine has been approved for HCV and Denver's 2014 Health of Denver report shows deaths locally from HCV have increased sharply in the past 10 years. As many as 17,000 HCV related deaths occur annually in the United States. These rates are expected to peak between the years 2030 and 2035 at 36,000 deaths per year.

"Early detection is the best defense against the ravages of hepatitis C," says Steinfurth.

Anyone can be tested, but Hep C Connection and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment especially recommend testing for those born between 1945 and 1965. Also at risk are those who had a blood transfusion or a blood product like Rhogam before 1992, obtained a tattoo outside of a licensed facility, or injected or snorted drugs – even only once. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says men who've had sex with other men should be tested.

Free testing will be held at sites throughout Colorado. See below for test sites and locations. Also visit Hep C Connection's Step Up to Hep blog at: http://stepuptohepco.wordpress.com/ for more information about hepatitis in Colorado.

CONTACT: Dede Laugesen • Media Relations • 719-659-3121

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: Hep C Connection executive director and hepatitis expert Nancy Steinfurth is available for on-camera, in-studio or telephone interviews. You can contact Steinfurth directly at 303-523-6131.

Hep C Connection 1325 S. Colorado Blvd., Bldg. B, Ste. 302, Denver, CO 80222
800-522-HEPC • www.hepc-connection.org

TEST SITES for May 19, 2015

Hep C Connection: http://www.hepc-connection.org

• Webb Municipal Building, 201 W. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Western Colorado AIDS Project (WestCAP): http://www.westcap.info  

Two test sites:

• Grand Valley Catholic Outreach 245 S. 1st St., Grand Junction, CO: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• WestCAP 805 Main St., Grand Junction, CO: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Northern Colorado AIDS Project (NCAP): http://www.ncaids.org

• Sister Mary Alice Murphy Center for Hope, 242 Conifer St., Fort Collins, CO: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Boulder County AIDS Project (BCAP): http://bcap.org

• Boulder County AIDS Project, 2118 14th St., Boulder, CO: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Boulder County Public Health: http://www.bouldercounty.org/dept/publichealth/pages/default.aspx

Two test sites:

• Boulder County Public Health 3482 Broadway, Boulder, CO: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Boulder County Public Health 529 Coffman St., #200, Longmont, CO: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Hey Denver: http://heydenver.org

• Scales' Pharmacy, 1999 Pennsylvania St., Denver, CO: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Denver Colorado AIDS Project (DCAP): http://www.denvercap.org  

• Avella Specialty Pharmacy 1245 E. Colfax Ave., Ste. 102, Denver, CO: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Southern Colorado AIDS Project (SCAP): http://www.s-cap.org

• TASC 1702 E. Pikes Peak Ave., Colorado Springs, CO: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tri-County Health Department (TCHD): http://www.tchd.org

Three test sites:

• (May 18) Aurora Central Library, 14949 E. Alameda Pkwy., Aurora, CO: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• TCHD N. Broadway location, 7000 N. Broadway, Suite 400, Denver, CO: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• TCHD Northglenn location, 10190 Bannock St., Suite 100, Northglenn, CO: 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

CDPHE, Hep C Connection, & SCAP:

• Senior Resource Development Authority, 230 N. Union Ave., Pueblo, CO: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Pueblo City-County Health Department & CDPHE: http://county.pueblo.org/government/county/pueblo-city-county-health-department

• Pueblo City-County Health Department, 101 W. 9th St., Pueblo, CO: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Additional resources:

• Hep C Connection: http://www.hepc-connection.org
• Step Up to Hep blog: http://stepuptohepco.wordpress.com
• CDPHE: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/hepatitis
• Health of Denver 2014 report:
  http://denvergov.org/Portals/746/documents/2014%20CHA/Full%20Report-%20FINAL.pdf
• 31 Facts for 31 Days of hepatitis C awareness: https://hepatitisc.net/living/31-facts-for-the-31-days-of-hepatitis-awareness-month/
• OUT of STATE STORY SAMPLE — Putnam County hosting free hepatitis C testing: http://putnam.dailyvoice.com/news/putnam-county-offering-free-hepatitis-c-screening

SOURCE Hep C Connection

Related Links

http://www.hepc-connection.org

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