Hepatitis C 101: Online

Hello,

HIV Alliance is dedicated to the education of Oregon’s students. Sexual health education is the first pillar to prevent the spread of viruses. Please, use this sight as a resource for basic information and knowledge on HIV and other sexually transmitted infections or diseases. There are only THREE steps to completing this online assignment!

HIV Alliance’s Education program fulfills state requirements for Oregon’s Comprehensive Sexuality Standards. For parents or teachers wanting more information or resources, please reach out to us! Thank you for engaging with this program.

Becky Noad
Northern Prevention & Education Manager, HIV Alliance
education@allianceor.org

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What to do?

Much like HIV 101 – Online, there are only three simple steps:

1. Complete the Hep C PRE-survey here.
2. Watch our Hep C 101 education video here.
   • Don’t forget to follow along with a copy of our power point presentation below!
   • Mira el video del HCV 101 en español aquí.
3. Complete the Hep C POST-survey here.

Here is a copy of our Hep C 101 PowerPoint presentation to help follow along.

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Hepatitis C Basics

The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infects the human liver cells. The liver has as many about 500 different functions for humans. One of its most important jobs is to filter blood and aid in digestion. Often, liver damage or pain can be misdirected or not noticed by a person. Someone may not know they have Hepatitis (or other liver damage) for years without knowing it. Only a few weeks after exposure to Hepatitis C, an infected individual may feel “flu-like symptoms” and it can go unseen as Hepatitis. As of now, there are five Hepatitis viruses (A-E). When viral hepatitis is allowed to damage the liver without treatment then it can lead to serious liver complications such as Liver Disease or as far as Liver Cancer. The liver is an amazing organ, it can regenerate itself too! As humans, we as humans cannot continue to live without a properly functioning liver.

Hepatitis C virus is considered incredibly hearty. Outside of the body, it can survive for as long as three to six weeks on a surface or material. In water, HCV can survive for about three weeks. And within a syringe, where the virus is protected from oxygen, HCV can live for as long as 62 days, more than two months. HCV can be killed outside of the body, but only by cleaners that are defined as Hospital Grade Viricides (bleach, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde … ). The incubation period (between exposure and when a test can come back reactive) is about 45 days, or 6-7 weeks.

Since 2014, Oregon has been known for having the highest rates of HCV related deaths, and continues to be a leading state in number of HCV cases. In this state alone, nearly 500 people die each year from Hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C can only be transmitted from the infected blood of someone to the blood-stream of another (uninfected) person. The transmission of this virus has been exploited by the US Opioid Epidemic (declared in 2017); due to the sharing of injection drug equipment that can easily spread blood from one person to another. Any tool can be infected; such as tourniquets, cookers, water, cottons, and even “tooters”. It is possible for infected blood to get onto personal hygiene tools – such as toothbrushes, razors, and nail trimmer – and spread to others if those tools are shared between people. HCV can also be transmitted through sexual contact – where blood is present.

At this time (2020), there is still no vaccine for HCV. However, there is a cure for the disease once somebody becomes infected. Somebody who uses the Oregon Health Plan (through the Affordable Care Act) can find easier access to this treatment through their insurance providers. Somebody can be cured of HCV and then be re-infected, needing treatment again. Treatment could take 12 weeks or longer for a person, depending on the rate and amount of damage that may have already been done to the liver. Some people are able to clear HCV on their own (about 20%), meaning they don’t need medical treatment. However, most infected people will require medical attention to treat HCV (80%).

For a long time, people born into the Baby Boomer population have been most “at risk” for Hepatitis C. Through medical treatments or blood transfusions, its more possible the virus has been spread to a “Boomer” before Hepatitis C was discovered and known. Researches have noticed a small plateau of younger adults with HCV as well. Other “at risk” groups are: Any person who has used illicit drugs; Recipients of blood clotting factor, blood transfusions, or organ transplants before 1992); Any person who has received long term hemodialysis; Any person experiencing signs of liver disease or with known exposures to HCV; and Any person with HIV.

People Who Have Lived with Hep C

Billy Graham (he/him) – Now a professional wrestler for many years was exposed to HCV infected blood during a match in the ring and was infected with HCV from direct blood-to-blood contact. Billy Graham had a liver transplant in 2002 to rid himself of Hepatitis C.

Lou Reed (he/him)  - Known as a prolific singer/songwriter from the band The Velvet Underground. This band was well known for bringing dark and moody music to the mid-twentieth century. Lou had hepatitis C and underwent a liver transplant. After the transplant, Lou experience liver disease still and attempted medical treatment and died in 2013.

Robert “Evel” Knievel (he/him) – made famous for his daredevil acts, Evel believed that he contracted the Hepatitis C virus through an unfortunate blood transfusion by one of his many visits to the hospital. Before HCV was identified in the late 1980’s, it was spread through medical settings due to its high rate of survival. He did undergo a liver transplant before the turn on the century, and died in 2007.

Natalie Cole (she/her) – Natalie Cole is a beautiful singer. She is the daughter to the beloved Nat King Cole. Natalie had struggled with substance abuse to herion and was known to share needles with others. This is how it is believed she contracted Hepatitis C. The treatment option she chose was chemotherapy and a liver transplant in 2009. Natalie died in 2015.

Natasha Lyonne (she/her) – While popular from her role on Orange is the New Black, Natasha Lyonne has acted since the age of 6 and done so in many capacities. It was due to substance abuse that she took a break from her acting career. In the mid 2000’s she walked away from acting and other responsibilities to take care of her addiction and health. She has since been cured of Hepatitis C.

Pamela Anderson (she/her) – An actress most widely popularized by her role in Baywatch and appearances in Playboy Magazine. Pamela Anderson has talked about sharing a tattoo needle with former husband Tommy Lee of Motley Crue. She took medication in 2015 to cure HCV from her body.

Steven Tyler (he/him) – The lead singer to Aerosmith, Steven Tyler was diagnosed with HCV in the early 2000’s. In that time, the medical intervention available was the use of interferon. Interferon is commonly known as a treatment for cancers and HIV/AIDS. He went through a long treatment process which seemed to have worked in his favor. He is no longer infected with HCV. 

Testing and Care

Testing is incredibly important! Because Hepatitis C can look and feel like a flu in the initial exposure stage, and because there aren’t other symptoms for as long as 20-30 years; any person should be tested at least once to make sure they do or do not have the Hepatitis C virus. Sometimes we don’t know that we have a virus like Hep C until we are tested for it.

Please visit our testing page to see when and where you can access a FREE Hepatitis C test.

In Lane County, HIV Alliance offers a Hepatitis C Case Management Program. While the program fluctuates in the number of clients that access the services, our team in Client Services can help to access care and doctors that may be able to help with Hepatitis C and other related issues.

Medication and a Cure

Right now (2020) there is no vaccine for Hepatitis C. There is, however a medical cure for Hepatitis C. There are many different kinds of medication available to an infected person; it is up to that individual and their doctor to decide which medication might be best for them.

Some people (about 20% of cases) have only Acute Hepatitis C – meaning they may cure themselves of the virus in about 6 months. A person may have an acute case due to the sub-type of virus they have or due to a personal strength within their own immune system - some bodies are capable of clearing versions of the virus on their own. However, the remaining larger group of people (about 80%) of people will require medical intervention.

Most treatment will be taking a medication each day for 12 weeks. For some, this may be a longer or shorter time frame. In March of 2019, the ruling around accessing treatment through Oregon Health Plan within the Affordable Care Act became much simpler. Now any person with HCV can access treatment covered by their insurance. It used to be required that a person show severe damage to their liver by having stage 3 or 4 of liver damage or disease. Accessing treatment can be simple and easy now!

Protecting Yourself

Hepatitis C is only spread from the blood of an infected person to another person’s blood. It is important to not share any grooming tools that may contact blood (such as razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, etc. ). Even if we don’t see blood on those objects, there can be small amounts of blood and virus on them.

There can also be blood present during certain sexual encounters. When people are practicing sex – there are ways to practice safer sex. Safer sex can be the use of condoms and lubrication alongside testing and talking openly with your sexual partners. Sexual abstinence is 100% effective in not transmitting STI’s.

Movies and Documentaries

VICE Video on Hepatitis Epidemic (37 minutes)

“Prometheus Bound: The Epidemic of Hepatitis C” (2007)

“Factor 8: The Arkansas Prison Blood Scandal” (2014)

Additional Information

For more information, please check out these videos:

Basic information that is easy to understand:

• What is Hepatitis C?
• Hepatitis C Screening 

More in depth details about how Hepatitis C effects the liver cells and treatment:

• Viral Hepatitis Made Simple 
• Anti-Viral Therapy for Hepatitis C 

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Additional Resources

• http://www.oasiscliniconline.org/
• https://www.piensaenelvinculo.org/2017/06/healing-through-musican-interview-with-hepatitis-c-survivor-and-think-about-the-link-spokesperson-alejandro-escovedo/
• https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/about-the-epidemic/index.html
• https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/index.htm
• https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/index.htm

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