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HCVets.com Press Release August 2007 Staff Reporter
THE SILENT EPIDEMIC AMONG RETIRED MILITARY AND VETERANS CAUSED BY A MUTE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE: 2.6 Million Retired Military, And Veterans Are Under Fire And Account For More "Daily Dead", Than Vietnam, Iraq And Afghanistan Combined
In 1999, the Department of Defense (DoD), withdrew use of all but one type of MUNJI. The DoD said the manufacturer discontinued production, anticipating liability due to the potential cross-contamination of blood borne pathogens.[1] These events followed on the heals of the World Health Organization warning, alerting countries to the dangers MUNJIs could pose, with the potential to transmit infection every 1 in 7 inoculations.[2] Nevertheless, the Navy and DoD believes the risk is worth the time saved, and began the practice again soon after the withdrawal. MUNJI use continues today despite the fact that in 2005, the Food and Drug Administration ban their use unless the device can demonstrated not to transmit blood.[3] Gary A. Roselle, M. D. Program Director for Infectious Diseases, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), testified before the House of Representatives, "One in 10 Vets have Hepatitis C (HCV) - 10 percent in the VHA system tested positive for HCV. Roselle continues; "retired military and veterans serving during Vietnam accounted for more than 60 percent of those with positive test results." [4] Statistics show the VA has identified 300,000 patients in its system. However, it has done very little to notify the remaining 2,370,000, undiagnosed vets. This is why, each hour of every day, three people die from HCV or its related conditions, two of these people have a military background. That is 2 x 24 = 48 Vets die per day x 365 = 17,520 people with Military backgrounds, will die this year.[5] The VA's HCV test and treatment is free to vets. However, this program remains unadvertised despite the fact, if diagnosed in time, a simple change in diet and lifestyle can save lives. This warning should be
"screamed" from the rooftops. Where are the reporters? http://www.hcvets.com ;
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References:
[1]
(1998-1999) Manufacturer
discontinuation of
large multi-dose vials for yellow
fever, meningococcal, and tetanus-diphtheria
vaccines because of military withdrawal of
Ped-O-Jets® capable of using them (MMQC-99-1248
dated 1998-Nov-03 and
MMQC-99-1251 dated
1999-Aug-12).
[2] World
Health Organization Statements on Jet Gun
Injection and Transmission of Blood Born
Pathogens
WHO recommended policy Draft: Revision
October 1998 GLOBAL PROGRAMME FOR VACCINES
AND IMMUNIZATION EXPANDED PROGRAMME ON
IMMUNIZATION ....the metal cap was found to
be contaminated after 1 in 7 injections
http://hcvets.com/data/transmission_methods/world_health_organization.htm
[3] Brief
Summary from the FDA General Hospital and
Personal Use Devices Panel Meeting - August
9, 2005 …preamendment and precleared MUNJIs
must meet the current expectations to remain
on the market.
FDA/FDASummary.htm
[4]
Testimony of Gary A. Roselle, M. D. Program
Director for Infectious Diseases Veterans
Health Administration Department of Veterans
Affairs Before the Subcommittee on Benefits
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs U.S. House of
Representatives April 13, 2000
http://hcvets.com/data/va_news/testimony_of_gary_a.htm
One in 10 Vets have Hepatitis C -A study conducted by the VHA, and involving 26,000 veterans, shows that eight to 10 percent of all veterans in the VHA system tested positive for hepatitis C. In this study, veterans who served in Vietnam accounted for more than 60 percent of those with positive test results. http://hcvets.com/data/va_news/alf1in10.htm Hepatitis C: Silent
Epidemic, Mute Public Health Response
[5] The
National Association of Community Health
Centers, Inc. (NACHC) /U.S. Newswire/ The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) estimates that the number of deaths
from end-stage liver disease in the U.S.
alone will reach 30,000 to 40,000 annually
by the year 2010.
http://www.nationalhepatitiscinstitute.org/Data/Transmission/CDCdeathrate2010.htm
1995 First time death rate announce for HCV, June 1, 1995 An estimated 3.5 million people in the United States have chronic hepatitis C. Each year, 8000 to 10,000 chronically infected patients die of liver-related complications, and 1000 undergo liver transplantation1 . Terrault N, Wright T. Interferon and hepatitis C. N Engl J Med 1995;332:1509-11. [Free Full Text] (and Alter M: personal communication) 1998 Congressional Research Service Report for Congress states. "Annual deaths from chronic liver disease caused by hepatitis C could triple in the next 10 to 20 years if effective therapies are not found. NIH has initiated research to develop a preventive vaccine and improved drug therapies, and new efforts are underway to identify and educate those already infected." 1998 National Institutes of Health (NIH) state; Incidence, Prevalence, and Epidemiology of HCV Infection.....An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 deaths each year result from HCV-associated chronic liver disease. Without intervention, that number could triple in the next 10 to 20 years.(7) 7. Management of Hepatitis C . NIH Consensus Statement. 1998 ###
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