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- The potentially fatal hepatitis C virus can be passed
on more easily than doctors have thought, a study shows.
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- Researchers have found traces of the virus in the saliva
of people infected with hepatitis C, meaning it could be contracted from
simple acts such as kissing or sharing a toothbrush.
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- Millions of people who suffer from gum disease could
be particularly at risk, the scientists said.
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- Around 400,000 people in Britain have hepatitis C, although
90 per cent are unaware they are infected because they have no symptoms.
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- Around one in five sufferers manages to get rid of the
virus without experiencing any problems, and 40 per cent of the rest can
be cured with combination drug therapy.
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- For some patients, however, the virus remains in the
body and can cause fatal liver damage. The virus is carried in the blood
and can also be caught through sexual contact.
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- Researchers at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial
Agents in Chicago say that infected people carry the virus in their saliva.
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- Scientists from the University of Washington in Seattle
tested the saliva of 12 people who were infected with hepatitis C every
day for 21 consecutive days.
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- Of the 248 samples taken, 52 or one in five tested positive
for the virus. Traces were found in the saliva of seven of the volunteers.
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- Those most likely to have traces of the virus in their
saliva had relatively high levels of the virus in their body. They were
also more likely to detect the virus in saliva if the volunteer had gum
disease.
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- The scientists said this may occur when the gums bleed
after brushing, leaving tiny drops of blood in the saliva.
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- "This study suggests that the saliva of individuals
infected with hepatitis C may be infectious," they said.
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- "Microscopic amounts of blood in the saliva due
to gum disease may be responsible.
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- "People with HCV (hepatitis C virus) are cautioned
not to share toothbrushes with other people in the household."
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- The findings suggest the virus could also be spread from
kissing.
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- Basil Williams, chief executive of the UK's National
Hepatitis C Resource Centre, said more research is needed to determine
if it is possible to catch the virus from kissing.
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- He said: "It is technically possible to catch hepatitis
C from kissing, but the risk appears to be very small."
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- © 2003 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd
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- http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=448371
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