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Action plan to combat hepatitis renewed by federal health officials

The federal government has renewed the Action Plan for Prevention, Care and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis (2014-2016).

The renewal builds upon the efforts of multiple agencies to improve diagnosis, care and treatment of individuals living with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and to prevent new infection, Ronald O.Valdiserri, MD, MPH, deputy assistant secretary for health and infectious diseases, at the US Department of Health & Human Services, said in a statement.

Those agencies include HHS and the departments of Justice, Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs.

Advances in HCV treatment, wider availability of safe and effective vaccines for hepatitis A and B and more opportunities for HCV testing under the Affordable Care Act mark some of the improvements and show the progress the various agencies are making, according to the statement.

Chronic viral hepatitis is a leading infectious cause of death in the US and claims between 12,000 and 18,000 lives each year, according to the statement.

To view the Action Plan, visit www.aids.gov/hepatitis.