CDC Viral Hepatitis Updates

Information for Healthcare Personnel Potentially Exposed to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV): Recommended Testing and Follow-up

Exposure to viral hepatitis has long been recognized as an occupational risk for healthcare personnel, with recommendations previously established for the management of occupational exposures to hepatitis C virus (HCV). This notice, which is based on current laboratory guidance, updates the 2001 HCV testing algorithm for healthcare personnel.
https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/pdfs/testing-followup-exposed-hc-personnel-3d.pdf

MMWR – Increases in Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths — United States, 2010–2015

From 2014 to 2015, the death rate from synthetic opioids other than methadone, which includes fentanyl, increased by 72.2%, and heroin death rates increased by 20.6%. Rates of death involving heroin and synthetic opioids other than methadone increased across all demographic groups, regions, and in numerous states. Natural/semisynthetic opioid death rates increased by 2.6%, whereas, methadone death rates decreased by 9.1%. There is an urgent need for a multifaceted, collaborative public health and law enforcement approach to the opioid epidemic.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm655051e1.htm

Viral Hepatitis Education and Training Projects

In late 2016, three organizations were awarded cooperative agreements for Viral Hepatitis Networking, Capacity Building, and Training: Hep B United, National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, and University of Washington.
https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/policy/vhnet.htm

Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) CDC-RFA-PS17-1703, Strengthening Surveillance in Jurisdictions with High Incidence of Hepatitis C Virus and Hepatitis B Virus Infections

CDC issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to improve active surveillance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) in statewide jurisdictions experiencing high rates of incident cases of HCV and/or HBV by supporting implementation of testing, treatment, and prevention services and activities based on surveillance data. This FOA builds upon current HCV and HBV surveillance projects and technical efforts, including CDC-RFA-PS13-1303, Viral Hepatitis – Prevention and Surveillance. This is an open competition announcement.
https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/foa-cdc-rfa-ps17-1703.htm