HEPATITIS C: Los Angeles Police to be Educated about Virus
The Los Angeles Police Department and Cedars-Sinai Hospital have "joined forces" to develop a hepatitis C police education program, Reuters Health reports. The program consists of an educational video, printed materials and onsite screening. LAPD Program Director Dr. Kevin Jablonski said that "[a]s many as eight officers per month may be exposed to blood and other bodily fluids that are sources for transmission of the hepatitis C virus." Dr. John Vierling, director of hepatology at Cedars-Sinai, added, "Forty percent of the individuals entering the California penal system for the first time have tested positive for hepatitis C, and that figure may be higher for repeat offenders" (Reuters Health, 10/12).
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