The hepatitis C virus, normally thought to be transmitted exclusively through blood — such as by sharing of needles among intravenous drug abusers — can also be transmitted through sexual activity, principally through anal sex among gay men, a growing body of evidence suggests. The most recent evidence was reported Thursday by New York City researchers who documented an outbreak of the virus, commonly known as HCV, among gay men.
Hepatitis C, which can cause severe liver disease and even death if left untreated, affects an estimated 3.2 million Americans. Many infected people show no symptoms, but others have severe disease that can require liver transplants. The infection can be cured in most people with a combination of the drugs pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin, plus a recently approved drug called Incivek, but treatment is most successful when started early in the course of the disease.
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Complete article at LA Times : http://lat.ms/mYaZB4
