Focus Area: Healthy People 2010 - Immunization
& Infectious Disease

• Objective 14.3: Reduce newly acquired hepatitis C cases to an incidence of no more than 1 per 100,000 people.
• Objective 14.4: (Developmental) Increase the number of persons with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who are identified by state and local health departments.

PowerPoint - Hepatitis C
PowerPoint - Risky Business
Case Study - Hepatitis C (pdf)
Team Report (pdf)

The team developed a multi-media campaign to increase public awareness and health education of hepatitis C throughout the community, primarily focusing on prevention and the risk factors associated with contracting the virus.

Media Campaign on Hepatitis C Awareness and Prevention:

TV: The team's lead preceptor, Wayne Brackenrich, D.O., and lead resident, Chris Howard, D.O., were guests on WVVA-TV 6 "In Focus" which aired on Sunday, May 22, 2005, discussed the incidence of hepatitis C within Mercer County and presented public health education information and prevention pertaining to the virus.

Radio: Chris Parrish and Ryan Fitzwater guests on a local radio talk show to discuss hepatitis C as a growing health concern among the community. This awareness and educational campaign primarily discussed the risk factors, prevention, detection, and treatment of this disease.

Newspaper: Chris Howard, D.O., lead resident, was interviewed by the Bluefield Daily Telegraph for a news article pertaining to the SE AHEC Team project and hepatitis C within Mercer County to include awareness, education and prevention of hepatitis C.

"Risky Business: Hepatitis in WV - Are You at Risk?" program was presented to junior and high school students within Mercer County and provided health education information pertaining to risk factors and prevention of hepatitis C. This power point presentation includes testimonies of two hepatitis C patients.

Health education resources were acquired through the CDC for distribution to local health care providers and health treatment facilities (pamphlets, posters, flyers, etc.)