Our recent class discussions on pathogens have focused on identification of bacteria, some examples of parasitic,fungal and viral infections. Although there is great concern with HIV, Hepatitis viruses are more virulent, this means that it takes fewer viral particles to infect a person. Now recent news from the CDC has reported that more people die from Hep C than do from HIV. This speaks to greatly improved HIV treatment, there is still no cure for HIV only long term maintenance drug therapies, but even more the increasing prevalence of the Hep C virus. To read more about Hep C transmission and risk factors, click the link below to read a Q&A from this week's TIME magazine health correspondent, Maia Slalavitz
http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/23/qa-what-you-need-to-know-about-hepatitis-c/
http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/23/qa-what-you-need-to-know-about-hepatitis-c/