Do you know your Hepatitis C status? Most people with Hepatitis C don’t know they are infected. If you were born between 1945 through 1965, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you get tested. Linn County Public Health (LCPH) provides confidential rapid Hepatitis C testing for $45. The test is free for those who qualify. Results are ready in just 20 minutes. To find out if you qualify for a free test or to make an appointment, call LCPH at 319.892.6093.
Baby boomers are five times more likely to have Hepatitis C, according to the CDC. Liver disease, liver cancer, and deaths from Hepatitis C are on the rise. The longer people live with Hepatitis C, the more likely they are to develop serious, life-threatening liver disease. Getting tested can save lives. Testing helps people learn if they are infected and get them into lifesaving care and treatment. Treatments are available that can eliminate the virus from the body and prevent liver damage, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer.
May is Hepatitis Awareness Month. LCPH offers rapid Hepatitis C, HIV, and sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing Monday through Friday from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm at 501 13th Street NW, Cedar Rapids. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call LCPH at 319.892.6093.
For more information about Hepatitis C, go to: http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/C/index.htm