It
has been suggested that the low risk of sexual transmission of HCV may
be due to infected blood passed during intercourse through abrasions of
mucosa rather than through HCV-infected semen (4).
In other words, "low risk" is the equivalent to 'not
likely'. Now, if multiple sex partners are used and/or anal sex,
hep C transmission in this fashion may be a bit more common.
...where there was no
evidence of sexual transmission of hepatitis C.
When I was diagnosed with hepatitis C one of the first
things I arranged for was for my family to be tested for this
disease. Both wife and son do not have hepatitis C.
Here's what the CDC has to say about it all:
HCV
can be spread by sex, but this is rare. If you are having sex with more
than one steady sex partner, use latex condoms* correctly and every
time to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. You should
also get vaccinated against hepatitis B.
( source: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c/fact.htm
)
They took the safe approach, a normal move for them.
But bottom
line: hepatitis C is transmitted by blood-to-blood contact, in one form
or another.
We already have more than enough stigma carried with the
hepatitis C disease, we don't need sloppy
authors making claims like this (in a Forbes publication no less):
Health Tip: Preventing Hepatitis C
--
Nancyann Rella
(HealthDay News) -- Almost four million Americans have hepatitis
C, a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV is spread
by sexual contact with an infected person or more often, by direct
contact with that person's blood.
The New York State Department of Health offers these
preventive measures:
Do not shoot drugs. If you do, stop and get into a
treatment
program. If you can't stop, never share needles, syringes, water or
"works," and get vaccinated against hepatitis.
Do not share personal care items that might have
blood on them (for example, razors and toothbrushes).
If
you are a health-care or public safety worker, always follow routine
precautions and safely handle needles and other sharps; get vaccinated
against hepatitis.
Consider the risks if you are thinking about
getting a tattoo or body piercing. You might get infected if the
artist's tools have someone else's blood on them.
HCV can be
spread by sex. If you are having sex with more than one steady sex
partner, use latex condoms correctly and every time to prevent the
spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
If you are infected with HCV, do not donate blood,
organs or tissue.
<snip - where the follow is stated:>
Other common STDs are caused by a virus. Hepatitis B (HPV) is spread
through vaginal, oral and anal sex, along with contaminated needles
and blood transfusions. According to www.epigee.org, approximately
one-third of people infected with HPV are asymptomatic.
When
symptoms occur, they include abdominal pain, headache, vomiting,
nausea, fatigue and diarrhea. Long-term complications may cause liver
failure, immune system disorders and cirrhosis.
<snip>
Where the author has grossly confused HBV (hepatitis B virus) with HPV
(Human Papalloma Virus). I haven't zinged this sloppy author,
yet, bit it's coming soon!
So having a few minutes of spare time
that day, I went to the web pages Ms. Frier cites above, 'www.epigee.org', I find a variety
of insulting articles:
For the onsite article,
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, your
comments can go to:feedback@epigee.org
I know... It was late at night when Melissa
was preparing her story, after a few bowls of pot and some beers, and
she got confused... Too many "V"s... And it was getting
real near press time.
When it comes to the hepatitis disease, we need precise
and accurate journalism, PERIOD! We need to do what we can to
share awareness of this disease with the general public, to be sure,
but we DO NOT need to be mininforming, lazy, and jump to conclusions as
Ms. Rella and Ms. Frier have done.
BigPat - Hep C
Tramsmission Myths
