Baby Boomers Should Get Tested for Hepatitis C

Baby Boomers more likely to have virus and not know it

By Kandiss Crone

CREATED Aug. 17, 2012

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  • If you're a baby boomer - born between 1945 and 1965 - you may have Hepatitis C and not even know it. Video by kmtv.com

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Omaha, NE - If you're a baby boomer - born between 1945 and 1965 - you may have Hepatitis C and not even know it. 

"About two-percent of the entire population has Hepititis C, the baby boomers have five times as often a positive Hepatitis C test," UNMC Dr. Mark Mailliard said.
 
Doctor Mark Mailliard explains why baby boomers are more at risk. "Hepatitis C is spread blood to blood and it's thought that the baby boomers have had more risky behavior overall than other age groups that have resulted in their infections."
 
Risky behavior isn't the only thing to blame. Experts say anyone who had a blood transfusion before 1992 is at risk. Back then, blood wasn't tested for viruses like Hepatitis C. The scary part - most infected people didn't have any symptoms for decades.
 
"Most these infections have been present in people who don't know they have it for 30-40 years already."
 
The Centers for Disease Control says testing could identify nearly one-million people who have the virus. A test that could prevent liver disease and ultimately death.