US starts grappling with ‘travesty’ of untreated hepatitis C
December 20, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Too many Americans are missing out on a cure for hepatitis C, and a study underway in a hard-hit corner of Kentucky is exploring a simple way to start changing that.
The key: On-the-spot diagnosis to replace today's multiple-step testing.
Ala. Medicaid to end sobriety mandate on hepatitis treatment
December 5, 2022 GMTMONTGOMERY, Ala (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice said Monday that it has entered into a settlement agreement with Alabama's Medicaid program to end a sobriety requirement for treatment of people with Hepatitis C.
Victims of UK tainted blood scandal to get government payout
August 17, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — Thousands of people in Britain who contracted HIV or hepatitis from transfusions of tainted blood in the 1970s and 1980s will receive 100,000 pounds ($120,000) in compensation, the U.K.
Fewer than 1 in 3 insured hepatitis C patients getting cure
August 9, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Fewer than 1 in 3 people infected with hepatitis C are getting the expensive treatments that can cure them, according to a U.S. government study released Tuesday.
The report is distressing because it focused on those with health insurance — the group most likely to get treated for the liver infection, said one expert, Dr.
Spain reports first deaths from acute hepatitis in children
August 5, 2022 GMTMADRID (AP) — Spain has reported its first two deaths from acute hepatitis, or liver inflammation, among children — an illness whose causes are unknown and is being monitored by world health officials.
US, Canadian regulators tie hepatitis cases to strawberries
May 30, 2022 GMTU.S. and Canadian regulators are investigating a hepatitis outbreak that may be linked to fresh organic strawberries.
In a joint weekend statement, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Public Health Agency of Canada said illnesses in Minnesota, California and Canada occurred after people consumed FreshKampo and H-E-B brand strawberries.
CDC probing 109 liver illnesses in kids, including 5 deaths
May 6, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials are looking into more than 100 possible cases of a mysterious and severe liver disease in children, including five deaths.
About two dozen states reported suspected cases after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put out a call for doctors to be on the lookout for surprising cases of hepatitis.
Mysterious case of hepatitis diagnosed in North Dakota child
May 5, 2022 GMTBISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota has become the latest in a growing number of states that is investigating a mysterious case of hepatitis in a child where all the usual causes have been ruled out.
Mysterious pediatric liver disease found in Minnesota
April 30, 2022 GMTMINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Department of Health said it's investigating several severe cases of hepatitis among children and has reported the cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week
April 29, 2022 GMTA roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out.
New Hampshire Senate rejects ending medical tech registry
April 28, 2022 GMTCONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire Senate has blocked an attempt to eliminate a registration system created to prevent widespread hepatitis C outbreak years ago.
New Hampshire created the Board of Registration for Medical Technicians in response to David Kwiatkowski, who is serving 39 years in prison for replacing painkillers with saline-filled syringes tainted with his blood.
EXPLAINER: What’s known about sudden liver disease in kids
April 26, 2022 GMTA puzzling outbreak of sudden liver disease in nearly 200 children has health authorities in Europe and the U.S. racing to find answers.
The illnesses have no known connection, although a possible link with a virus that can cause colds is being investigated.
UK: More links between common virus, hepatitis in children
April 25, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — British health officials investigating the cause of a spike in acute hepatitis, or liver inflammation, among children said there is increasing evidence that it is linked to a common virus.
WHO: 1 child has died in mystery liver disease outbreak
April 24, 2022 GMTBERLIN (AP) — The World Health Organization says at least one death has been reported in connection with a mysterious liver disease outbreak affecting children in Europe and the United States.
Puzzling outbreak of liver disease in kids spreads to EU, US
April 19, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — Health officials say they have detected more cases of a mysterious liver disease in children that was first identified in Britain, with new infections spreading to Europe and the U.S.
Mysterious liver illness seen in kids in US, Europe
April 15, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Health officials in several countries are investigating mysterious cases of severe liver disease in children, and they think it may be related to a kind of virus usually associated with colds.
State officials looking to launch prison tattoo program
April 15, 2022 GMTST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — State corrections officials are looking to a launch a prison tattoo program in hopes of curbing bloodborne diseases as inmates ink themselves with homemade tools.
UK investigating puzzling spike in liver disease in children
April 13, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — Scientists are investigating a puzzling spike in liver disease in children across the United Kingdom, including the cause and whether there are any links between the affected youngsters.
Decade after hepatitis outbreak, medical registry might end
April 9, 2022 GMTCONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The medical technician who drew blood from New Hampshire Rep. Peter Schmidt after he broke his leg in February was registered with the state, thanks to a 2014 law enacted after a traveling medical technician infected dozens of people with hepatitis C.
Hospital: No infections after potential exposure to diseases
March 5, 2022 GMTDUBLIN, Ga. (AP) — A middle Georgia veterans hospital says it hasn't identified any new infections a month after it warned that more than 4,600 veterans might have been exposed to HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
Reused syringes prompts call for patients to get tested
November 24, 2021 GMTBECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Health officials are urging some patients at Mountain State Vascular clinic in Beckley to get blood tests checking for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV after possible exposure.
Panel: All US adults under 60 should get hepatitis B shots
November 3, 2021 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — A government advisory committee on Wednesday recommended that all U.S. adults younger than 60 be vaccinated against hepatitis B, because progress against the liver-damaging disease has stalled.
Three dead after hepatitis A outbreak linked to restaurant
November 2, 2021 GMTROANOKE, Va. (AP) — Three adults have died from complications of a hepatitis A outbreak being linked to a local restaurant chain in Virginia, health officials say.
Officials have identified at least 49 cases and 31 hospitalizations from the outbreak, The Roanoke Times reported.
Appeals court upholds rationing of hepatitis C treatment
July 10, 2021 GMTCINCINNATI (AP) — The Kentucky Department of Corrections can deny a life-saving but expensive hepatitis C medication to inmates, a federal appeals court ruled in a split decision. The dissenting judge in last week's 2-1 ruling at the 6th U.S.
UK infected blood probe focuses on school where dozens died
June 21, 2021 GMTLONDON (AP) — A public inquiry into Britain’s contaminated blood scandal, which led to the deaths of more than 2,000 people in the 1970s and ’80s, began hearing evidence Monday from former students at a disabled children's school where dozens died after being given blood products tainted with HIV and hepatitis.
West Virginia to get $393K from feds for hepatitis detection
April 28, 2021 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia will receive $393,100 from the federal government to detect the spread of hepatitis...
High court won’t hear Tennessee prisoners’ hepatitis C case
April 19, 2021 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is leaving in place an appeals court decision that upheld Tennessee’s rationing of life-saving hepatitis C drugs to prisoners as constitutional...
Mississippi probes cases of hepatitis in restaurant workers
April 7, 2021 GMTState health officials are investigating two cases of hepatitis A in Jackson County restaurant employees...
Maine CDC: Potential hepatitis A exposure at Orono store
March 25, 2021 GMTORONO, Maine (AP) — Patrons of a store in Orono earlier this month might have been exposed to a kind of hepatitis, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said...
Eastern Indiana county extends needle exchange for a year
May 16, 2020 GMTRICHMOND, Ind. (AP) — An eastern Indiana county has approved a one-year extension of its long-running needle exchange program, which is aimed at reducing the spread of diseases among intravenous drug users...
Seattle area Hepatitis A cases up amid coronavirus pandemic
April 9, 2020 GMTSEATTLE (AP) — More than 100 people have contracted hepatitis A in the Seattle area since the beginning of January, coinciding with the coronavirus pandemic, public health officials said...
New US guidelines urge a hepatitis C check for most adults
March 2, 2020 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Most American adults need to be checked for hepatitis C, say guidelines released Monday that urge millions more people to get screened for the liver-damaging virus that can fester for decades it's spotted...
Maine saw dozens more hepatitis A cases in 2019
February 13, 2020 GMTAUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The number of reported cases of hepatitis A in Maine climbed by dozens last year, public health authorities said Thursday...
Officials: Hepatitis cases linked to California restaurant
February 9, 2020 GMTLONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Several cases of hepatitis A were confirmed in customers who ate in the same California restaurant, health officials said...
Mississippi investigates hepatitis case at restaurant
February 2, 2020 GMTVICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Department of Health says a restaurant worker in Vicksburg has been diagnosed with hepatitis A...
Maine CDC warns of potential hepatitis exposure at market
January 27, 2020 GMTAUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that consumers might have been exposed to a form of hepatitis at a market in the central part of the state...
Vermont warns about hepatitis A outbreak
January 16, 2020 GMTMONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont is reporting a statewide outbreak of hepatitis A, joining 30 other states, including New Hampshire and Massachusetts, that have seen a marked increase in the number of cases, the Vermont Health Department said Thursday...
Mandated hep C treatment for SC inmates gets initial consent
January 15, 2020 GMTCOLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A federal judge granted preliminary approval Tuesday of a proposed settlement mandating testing and treatment for hepatitis C of all inmates in South Carolina correction facilities...
Nearly 3,400 Hepatitis A cases reported in Florida in 2019
January 5, 2020 GMTTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida health officials say there were nearly 3,400 hepatitis A cases in 2019...
Dental patients advised to get tested for HIV, hepatitis
December 17, 2019 GMTKNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Some patients treated by a Tennessee dentist have been advised to get tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C...
Nevada launches drive to test all inmates, treat hepatitis C
December 16, 2019 GMTCARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — With costs falling for hepatitis C treatment, Nevada state prisons are launching a program to test all inmates for the blood-borne virus...
Free hepatitis C screenings at 10 Louisiana Walmart stores
December 10, 2019 GMTBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — As Louisiana broadens its efforts to combat hepatitis C in hopes of largely eliminating the deadly viral infection, the health department announced Tuesday that 10 Walmart locations around the state will offer free screenings for the infectious, liver-damaging disease...
Hepatitis A outbreak over in northern Kentucky
December 10, 2019 GMTFLORENCE, Ky. (AP) —
The hepatitis A outbreak in northern Kentucky has been declared over by local health officials...
More than 1,000 vaccinated as hepatitis A strikes Virginia
December 9, 2019 GMTBRISTOL, Va. (AP) — A confirmed case of hepatitis A in a Virginia restaurant worker prompted a health division to launch a public vaccination effort for the first time this year as the state fights its outbreak status...
Hepatitis A on rise in Colorado with nearly 300 known cases
December 7, 2019 GMTDENVER (AP) — Almost 300 people have contracted hepatitis A in Colorado since an increase in the contagious liver disease began in 2018...
Yakima County reports 18 hepatitis A cases
December 3, 2019 GMTYAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — Yakima County has 18 confirmed cases of hepatitis A, a number authorities say will likely increase in the weeks and months ahead...
Hepatitis A outbreak tied to berries spreads to 1 more state
December 3, 2019 GMTOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A hepatitis A outbreak tied to blackberries sold in Fresh Thyme grocery stores now includes 16 confirmed cases in six states...
Patients sue Indiana hospital over possible disease exposure
November 29, 2019 GMTGOSHEN, Ind. (AP) — More than 1,000 surgical patients are suing a northern Indiana hospital after being notified that a sterilization failure could have exposed them to deadly infections...
Lawsuit filed over hepatitis A outbreak linked to berries
November 27, 2019 GMTOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha woman who contracted hepatitis A after eating blackberries she bought at a Fresh Thyme grocery store has sued the company...
North Carolina county reports 19 cases of hepatitis A
November 27, 2019 GMTWINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Health officials in a North Carolina county are reporting 19 cases of hepatitis A, adding that there have been no deaths so far...
Hepatitis A outbreak increases to 11 cases in Yakima County
November 21, 2019 GMTYAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — Health officials say a hepatitis A outbreak in Yakima County now involves 11 cases...
Officials: Multistate hepatitis A cases traced to berries
November 21, 2019 GMTLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A hepatitis A outbreak in Nebraska, Indiana and Wisconsin has been traced to blackberries sold in Fresh Thyme grocery stores and federal authorities on Wednesday warned consumers in 11 states against eating some berries bought from that chain...
County offers vaccinations after hepatitis scare
November 6, 2019 GMTSOMERVILLE, N.J. (AP) — Somerset County is offering free hepatitis A vaccinations after a deli worker at a supermarket was found to have the virus...
Restaurant worker contracts hepatitis A in northern WVa
October 23, 2019 GMTMORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Health officials say a restaurant worker in northern West Virginia has contracted hepatitis A...
Panel calls for hepatitis treatment for former NJ inmates
October 22, 2019 GMTTRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey should mandate hepatitis B and C screening and treatment for former inmates, along with dozens of other initiatives, as the state addresses how former inmates reintegrate into society, a state commission said Tuesday...
A third of Kentucky students haven’t had Hepatitis A vaccine
October 16, 2019 GMTFRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Department for Public Health says more than a third of students haven't received the mandated Hepatitis A vaccination...
Flight attendant may have exposed passengers to Hepatitis A
October 8, 2019 GMTCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Health officials in North Carolina say more than a dozen people may have been exposed to hepatitis A on a recent flight...
Salmonella, hepatitis A reported at Crow Wing County Jail
October 3, 2019 GMTBRAINERD, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Department of Health is investigating cases of salmonella and hepatitis A at the Crow Wing County Jail...
Judge: Treatment of Tennessee inmates with hep C improving
October 1, 2019 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge in Nashville ruled this week that Tennessee's treatment of prisoners with hepatitis C is not grossly inadequate but warned the state to make good on its promises to treat more patients more quickly...
West Virginia health data reveals surge in hepatitis C cases
October 1, 2019 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Health Department data reveals hepatitis C cases in the state's largest county have soared to the highest numbers in years, months after a program offering clean needles was suspended...