In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has called for all Americans born between 1945 and 1965 to be tested for the Hepatitis C virus (HVC), which can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Baby boomers are 5 times more likely than other adults to carry the hepatitis C virus. About 1 in 30 boomers is infected and thousands die each year of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
People at risk for contracting this virus include those exposed to intravenous drugs, shared needles, blood transfusions and transplants, and unprotected sexual activity. 130 to 170 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis C, according to the World Health Organization.
Because approximately 80% of people with the virus do not exhibit any immediate symptoms, many people are not tested for years. If you were born between 1945 and 1965, you should get tested.
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Dr. Ardyce Yik ND 