May 19th is Hepatitis Testing Day! Millions of people living in the US have chronic viral hepatitis—but most of them don’t know they have it. That’s why Hepatitis Testing Day seeks to encourage folks to learn their status and help raise awareness of hepatitis B and hepatitis C. All adults aged 18 years or older are reccomended to be screened for hepatitis B and hepatitis C at least once in their lifetimes. 

Ben Sokoloff, one of our amazing physicians at Prism Health, explains that “hepatitis itself really just refers to any kind of inflammation of the liver. It can be caused by a very wide differential of causes, one of which does include viruses. And there are four common viruses that we will often refer to that infect the liver. And they each have their own unique traits.” While hepatitis A and hepatitis E cause short term liver inflammation, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are chronic viruses.  

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C can be transmitted sexually, as well as through direct blood contact, such as from shared needles. Thankfully, there are treatments available for both hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and hepatitis C can even be cured with medication.  

Preventing hepatitis transmission includes a variety of methods, including vaccinations, syringe exchanges, using good hygiene methods, using condoms, and avoiding the sharing of blood with anyone else. 

To learn more about hepatitis testing and treatment, check out episode 3 of our podcast, Vibrant! Dr. Ben Sokoloff brings us all the hepatitis knowledge in honor of Hepatitis Testing Day. Plus, be sure to follow the CAP Prevention Team on Instagram to stay in the loop about upcoming community testing events! 

About Cascade AIDS Project

CAP is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1985 as a grassroots response to the AIDS crisis. As the oldest and largest community-based HIV services provider in Oregon and southwest Washington, we seek to support and empower all people with or affected by HIV, reduce stigma, and provide the LGBTQ+ community with compassionate healthcare. We do so by helping to ensure the health and well-being of our program participants each year through health, housing, and other social services. When the need for affordable, accessible, and culturally affirming primary care services was identified as a community need, we responded by opening Prism Health in 2017.  More information can be found at www.capnw.org.

About Prism Health 

Prism Health provides high quality, affordable, and accessible health care for all, with a focus on serving individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus all other gender and sexual minorities (LGBTQ+). All of Prism services aim to reach the most vulnerable – those living below the poverty line, communities of color, homeless or unstably housed individuals, and people experiencing mental health and/or addiction issues.