CDC: PRISON ACTION CAN STEM HEPATITIS

ATLANTA - The government said Friday that public vaccination efforts to
prevent hepatitis outbreaks should be extended to prisons, a move one
expert said could save many lives. "Medical prevention measures can be
delivered effectively in prisons," said Dr. Cindy Weinbaum of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. "Prison is a great place for preventing
these infections from getting transmitted because it's a venue where we can
vaccinate."

Hepatitis is caused by a virus that attacks the liver. About 1.4 million
Americans have chronic hepatitis B conditions and between 125,000 to
200,000 people yearly are infected with hepatitis A.

More than 4 million Americans have chronic hepatitis C infections. Of
those, about 39 percent once were in prison, the CDC said.

Among the CDC's recommendations, some of which date to 1982 but were
consolidated in Friday's report:

- -Inmates not previously infected with hepatitis B should be vaccinated
because they are in proximity with infected people and those with high-risk
behaviors, such as drug use.

- -Prison guards in frequent contact with blood should be vaccinated against
hepatitis B.

- -High-risk groups, such as men who have sex with men or drug users, should
be vaccinated against hepatitis A.

The CDC also suggested hepatitis C tests for intravenous drug users. No
vaccine exists for hepatitis C.

"It's critically important that CDC has come out to recommend that inmates
be immunized to protect them and the general public from hepatitis A and
B," said Alan Brownstein, president and chief executive of the American
Liver Foundation. "This will save many lives among inmates and many lives
among those in the public; this is a breath of fresh air."

Weinbaum said each state and prison system will have to decide whether to
implement the recommendations.

On the Net:

CDC recommendations: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr

American Liver Foundation: http://www.liverfoundation.org