Baby Boomers Need Hepatitis C Test

The CDC has suggested that all Americans born from 1945 through 1965 get tested for hepatitis C. The virus is the leading cause of liver transplants and liver cancer, and this age group, otherwise known as the “baby boomers,” account for over 75% of adults infected with the virus in the U.S. According to the Center, more than 15,000 Americans—mostly baby boomers—die each year from hepatitis C-related illness, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, and deaths have been increasing steadily for over a decade. In fact, most people do not know they have the virus because it inconspicuously damages the liver over many years. New treatments are now available that can cure some infections, and the CDC believes expanded screening efforts can prevent thousands of unnecessary deaths. For more information, click here.