danielle
02-02-2003, 08:53 AM
By KATE CLEMENTS
© 2003 THE NEWS-GAZETTE
Published Online January 29, 2003
SPRINGFIELD – People who spend time in jails, prisons and juvenile correctional institutions have a disproportionately high prevalence of infectious diseases like hepatitis C, and are also more likely to engage in risky behaviors that expose them to such viruses, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a study released Monday.
Nearly 40 percent of Americans with hepatitis C have been released from a correctional facility in the last year, according to the centers, which urged that more be done to treat and prevent the spread of the virus both within prisons and after inmates are released.
The American Civil Liberties Union and members of a group called Coalition for Better Treatment this week called on Congress to investigate the problem, saying infected but uninformed inmates are a danger to the health and safety of prison staff, visitors, other prisoners and the communities into which inmates are released.
Illinois Department of Corrections Medical Director Willard Elya said he had not yet read the new reports, but said the agency "will honestly look at all updates on these things to assure that appropriate medical care is given."
The CDC's recommendations include vaccinating all inmates against hepatitis B and giving hepatitis B and C tests to any inmates who admit to risk factors such as intravenous drug use.
It also recommends offering substance abuse treatment and education to those in the corrections system about how to prevent risky behaviors such as sharing needles or having unprotected sex.
"I have high hopes that (the recommendations) will be implemented – that's why we spent two years putting them together," CDCepidemiologist Rob Lyerla said.
Currently, all Illinois corrections employees are offered the hepatitis B vaccine, along with those offenders who work in high-risk areas, such as the infirmaries or laundry facilities, where they might accidentally get a needle stick, Elya said.
The vaccine is not offered to all inmates.
When it comes to testing and treatment, the Illinois Department of Corrections has policies in place for addressing viral diseases, and, in the case of hepatitis C, follows guidelines put out by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Elya said.
Illinois prison inmates receive peer HIV education, which may touch on hepatitis, because the methods of preventing transmission of the viruses are often the same. Hepatitis is not the thrust of those lessons, however.
Those who do test positive for hepatitis B or C receive special training on how to stop its spread, but testing is only done for offenders who display symptoms of the diseases.
The CDC recommended that testing be done for inmates who admit to behavior that may have put them at risk of infection, whether or not they are showing any symptoms.
Lyerla said even those who test negative for hepatitis should be taught how to stay that way.
"We believe that anyone who reports a risk factor, as well as getting tested, needs to know what that sets them up for," he said.
© 2003 THE NEWS-GAZETTE
Published Online January 29, 2003
SPRINGFIELD – People who spend time in jails, prisons and juvenile correctional institutions have a disproportionately high prevalence of infectious diseases like hepatitis C, and are also more likely to engage in risky behaviors that expose them to such viruses, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a study released Monday.
Nearly 40 percent of Americans with hepatitis C have been released from a correctional facility in the last year, according to the centers, which urged that more be done to treat and prevent the spread of the virus both within prisons and after inmates are released.
The American Civil Liberties Union and members of a group called Coalition for Better Treatment this week called on Congress to investigate the problem, saying infected but uninformed inmates are a danger to the health and safety of prison staff, visitors, other prisoners and the communities into which inmates are released.
Illinois Department of Corrections Medical Director Willard Elya said he had not yet read the new reports, but said the agency "will honestly look at all updates on these things to assure that appropriate medical care is given."
The CDC's recommendations include vaccinating all inmates against hepatitis B and giving hepatitis B and C tests to any inmates who admit to risk factors such as intravenous drug use.
It also recommends offering substance abuse treatment and education to those in the corrections system about how to prevent risky behaviors such as sharing needles or having unprotected sex.
"I have high hopes that (the recommendations) will be implemented – that's why we spent two years putting them together," CDCepidemiologist Rob Lyerla said.
Currently, all Illinois corrections employees are offered the hepatitis B vaccine, along with those offenders who work in high-risk areas, such as the infirmaries or laundry facilities, where they might accidentally get a needle stick, Elya said.
The vaccine is not offered to all inmates.
When it comes to testing and treatment, the Illinois Department of Corrections has policies in place for addressing viral diseases, and, in the case of hepatitis C, follows guidelines put out by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Elya said.
Illinois prison inmates receive peer HIV education, which may touch on hepatitis, because the methods of preventing transmission of the viruses are often the same. Hepatitis is not the thrust of those lessons, however.
Those who do test positive for hepatitis B or C receive special training on how to stop its spread, but testing is only done for offenders who display symptoms of the diseases.
The CDC recommended that testing be done for inmates who admit to behavior that may have put them at risk of infection, whether or not they are showing any symptoms.
Lyerla said even those who test negative for hepatitis should be taught how to stay that way.
"We believe that anyone who reports a risk factor, as well as getting tested, needs to know what that sets them up for," he said.