Recent government studies show that hepatitis C, which can destroy
the liver and necessitate a liver transplant, now kills more American
adults than AIDS, and new UCLA research shows just how prevalent the
disease is among homeless adults in downtown Los Angeles.
In a study published in the July–August issue of Public Health
Reports, researchers found that 26.7 percent of homeless adults tested
and surveyed in downtown Los Angeles' skid row were infected with the
hepatitis C virus (HCV) — more than 10 times the 2 percent rate among
the general U.S. population. Of those surveyed, 46.1 percent were
unaware that they were infected. Four percent of the sample were
HIV-positive.
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