Military's Hepatitis C Risk Low, But DoD Still Concerned  
 
Mazzuchi said, "In fact, a nationwide alert by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention of a possible Hepatitis C
epidemic "is really more of an epidemic of discovering what
was," he said." "The actual number of new cases is declining."
 
Questions from HCVets.com:
1. So why aren't the CDC & VA focusing on the transmission
methods that existed before universal precautions and the
discontinued use of pneumatic (jet injection, needleless) air
guns for mass immunization, 1997? 
 
2. Why will the only awareness for HCV be in STD and
substance abuse clinics?

The findings of Congressman Robert Steele (R-CT) investigated
reports "In reality, the use of drug paraphernalia in Vietnam,
accounted for less than 15% of the troops. The Department of
Defense appointed several Task Forces to inquire into... the
problem... Early reports from one of the Task Forces stated that
there was a relatively low rate of drug abuse in the services.   In
April 1971, Congressman Robert Steele (R-CT) investigated
reports of heroin abuse among U.S. servicemen in Vietnam. His
fact-finding mission estimated an addiction rate of 10 to 15%.
Further studies state 90-95% of addicts smoked heroin and only
5-10% of that group injected. Subsequent research showed that
relatively few were either dysfunctional or addicted users after
their return to the United States" [2] 
 
The CDC strategy plan for treatment and prevention of HCV will
not alert our veterans to the risk of infections from service..
Please don't let them die! The merge of HCV into the Substance
Abuse & STD programs will seal their fate.

HCVets.com

[2] The Consumers Union Report on Licit and Illicit Drugs by
Edward M. Brecher and the Editors of Consumer Reports
Magazine, 1972 some 90 to 95 percent of all GI users sniffed
("snorted") the drug or inserted a little in a cigarette and smoked
it.
http://hcvets.com/news_letter/drugusenam.htm
Recreational Drug Information Website relatively few were either
dysfunctional or addicted users after their return to the United
States (58)  http://www.drugtext.org/reports/fada/fada1.htm

 
 If we don't ask the questions they will not get answered. The
more that ask, the sooner the response. ASK NOW
cdcresponse@...

Be sure to show the findings of Congressman Robert Steele
(R-CT) investigated reports.

Send responses to hcv_community@...