Based on the latest report by the CDC (CDC, 2014), the total reported number of acute hepatitis B in 2014 in the United States was 2,953. The incidence rate for these cases stood at 0.9 cases/100,000 populace. Additionally, after variations have been made to factor in under-ascertainment and unreported cases, the predictable figure of hepatitis B cases in 2014 stood at 19,200 cases (CDC, 2014). In the same year, the CDC documents a total of 2,196 incidences of acute hepatitis C which was documented in 41 states. This data accounts for an overall incidence rate of 0.7 cases/100,000 population. Additionally, approximately 30,600 acute hepatitis cases were documented in the same year. In Illinois, the incidence of chronic HBV is lower than 1.5 cases per 100,000 in the latest 2014 statistics. Cases of hepatitis C in Illinois based on the 2014 data from the CDC indicate that the Healthy People 2020 target of less than 0.25 incidence per 100,000 population has been attained (CDC, 2014).
The transmission of Hepatitis B is through interaction with either the blood or fluids of the body of an infected person, or via sexual contact, or through the sharing of an infected needle. Mother to child transmissions have also been documented. The condition however asymptomatic to most infected persons in the acute phase (Lok et al., 2016). Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) on the other hand is primarily transmitted via exposure to infected blood such us during blood transfusions or the sharing needles. Mother to child transmissions are also common with hepatitis C. Kissing, sneezing and coughing cannot spread the disease however.
Levels of prevention
The most efficacious method of preventing the spread of Hepatitis C involves the avoidance of behaviors that spread the disease. This is because HCV is the commonest blood borne infection in the U.S (CDC, 2014). HBV on the other hand can be prevented by vaccines recommended by the CDC which are administered to infants at birth. No vaccine is however available to prevent HCV. In this regard, the community resources currently available in Illinois, Will County that can be used to control include the community health centers. In these centers, performing infection control measures such as screening blood before transfusions, screening maternal blood during antenatal visits are efficacious strategies that can be used locally. Additionally, awareness strategies through the monthly meetings at the Will County halls can be used to create awareness of the disease.
Community based nursing activities
Various public health community based nursing interventions can prevent the incidence and occurrence of hepatitis B and C virus. These include screening for the chronic forms of hepatitis, education and improved surveillance of the disease, improving access to support and care services in healthcare facilities and improved training for nurses to diagnose and manage the disease.
References
Centre for Disease Control. Hepatitis disease surveillance, 2014. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/statistics/2014surveillance/commentary.htm#hepatitisB
Lok, A. S., McMahon, B. J., Brown, R. S., Wong, J. B., Ahmed, A. T., Farah, W., & Singh, S. (2016). Antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B viral infection in adults: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Hepatology, 63(1), 284-306.
