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Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

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May 15, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"More Are Finding Permanent Cures for Hepatitis C"

New York Times (www.nytimes.com) (05/14/02) P. F7; Bain, Julie

Hepatitis C, which causes cirrhosis or liver cancer, infects more than 4 million people in the United States.  However, unlike hepatitis A and B, hepatitis C has no vaccine, and it can remain undetected in the body for many years until symptoms of the disease begin appearing.  Developing a vaccine against hepatitis C has been challenging, as the virus has eight molecular configurations that continually change and mutate.  Patients with the disease often benefit from treatments of pegylated interferon, but the treatment comes with serious side effects that often cause patients to stop treatment.

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.