Viral Hepatitis Prevention Initiative    

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH)’s Viral Hepatitis (VH) Prevention Initiative consults with local health departments, healthcare providers, healthcare facilities, community agencies, substance abuse treatment centers, correctional facilities and the general public to prevent and control viral hepatitis among Ohioans. The Initiative seeks to improve the delivery of viral hepatitis prevention services in healthcare settings and public health programs that serve at-risk adults and adolescents by integrating viral hepatitis messages and services into existing programs.  Specific integration activities include:  

• Implementation and evaluation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) counseling and testing in settings serving high-risk persons, and 
• Hepatitis vaccination services in HIV counseling, testing, and referral (CTR) sites; sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics; correctional facilities; substance abuse treatment centers; and local health departments.

The year 2004 was the first full year of HCV counseling and testing at 11 pilot sites throughout Ohio; currently there are more than 30 sites.  The target population for HCV testing at these sites consists of those with the following risk factors:

• History of injection drug use (even one time, many years ago)
• History of a blood transfusion or organ transplant prior to July 1992
• History of occupational exposure to blood (e.g., needle stick, blood splash to mucous membranes)
• History of sex with a known HCV positive person
• History of a non-professional tattoo
• History of sharing straws when snorting drugs
• History of non-occupational exposure to blood (e.g., fights, first aid to an injured person)
• HIV positive status 

May 2007 saw the initiation of the Adult Hepatitis Vaccination Project (AHVP) which provides free hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine and free hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccine to un- or under-insured adults presenting in settings that serve high-risk adults or who are identified as having behaviors that place them at high-risk for viral hepatitis.  Those who risk severe complications from viral hepatitis such as those with chronic HCV or HIV, along with those who are diabetic and those whose schooling requires HBV vaccine, are also targeted regardless of behavioral risk factors.  The AHVP is a collaborative effort between the ODH Immunization Program and the ODH VH Initiative.

For information on free hepatitis vaccines for high-risk adults, contact your local health department (LHD) or call the ODH Viral Hepatitis Prevention Coordinator at 614-644-2714.

Journal articles related to hepatitis:  Amedeo.com: The Medical Literature Guide is a free service with weekly emails providing bibliographical details from articles related to a disease(s) of your choice in your favorite journals.  Links to abstracts are provided as well.

Free hepatitis brochures and fact sheets:  Call 614-728-6494 for an order form for free HBV and HCV brochures through ODH.  Many organizations linked through this website provide free patient brochures, posters, and/or fact sheets that can be ordered and/or downloaded from their respective websites.  Fact sheets from ODH can be found in the ODH Infectious Disease Control Manual section 3.

Free hepatitis posters and palm cards:  Call or email (see contact information below) if you would like any of the following palm cards.  Posters to go along with each palm card are also available.  Palm cards are 3.5" X 3.5" and posters are 11" X 17". 

Hep Is Not Hip Palm Card

Hep IDU Tattoo Girl Palm Card

Hep Vaccine Palm Card

National Reports and Plans on Viral Hepatitis: 

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report (January 2010): Hepatitis and Liver Cancer: A National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis B and C.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (May 2011): Combating the Silent Epidemic of Viral Hepatitis: Action Plan for the Prevention, Care & Treatment of Viral Hepatitis

Hepatitis Hotlines:

Hepatitis C? We're Listening - 1-877-HELP-4-HEP (877-435-7443)  http://www.help4hep.org/

Hep C Connection HelpLine - 1-800-522-HEPC (4372)  http://www.hepc-connection.org/

Ohio HIV/STD Prevention Hotline - 1-800-332-2437  http://preventhivstdohio.com/

For information on specific hepatitis topics, click on the appropriate link below:

Baby Boomers and Hepatitis C

Clinical Trials

Continuing Education for Physicians & Nurses

Diabetes and Viral Hepatitis

General Hepatitis Information/Resources

Healthcare Workers

Hepatitis C Testing Algorithms and Guidelines

Hepatitis Serology and Case Classification

HIV/Hepatitis Coinfection

Infectious Disease Control Manual (IDCM) Viral Hepatitis Sections

Newly Diagnosed

Recommendations for Viral Hepatitis Prevention and Control

Resources for Sites Offering Integrated Hepatitis Services

Updated treatment guidelines for genotype 1, chronic hepatitis C infection 

For other questions and concerns related to viral hepatitis, please contact the Viral Hepatitis Prevention Coordinator at 614-644-2714 or send an email to:

BHST@odh.ohio.gov

This site contains prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences.

Disclaimer:  Linking to a non-federal site does not constitute an endorsement by the Ohio Department of Health or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site.

Last updated 9/14/12