Leveraging the Emergency Department to Address the Hepatitis C Epidemic

Leveraging the Emergency Department to Address the Hepatitis C Epidemic

Up to 4 million individuals in the US are estimated to be infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and a sizable portion remain undiagnosed. Most infections are asymptomatic, with exposure to HCV often occurring decades earlier. Hepatitis C is responsible for more than 15 000 deaths each year in the US, despite the availability of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), which can cure more than 95% of people who complete treatment. Identifying and treatin…