LIVER RISK FACTORS part 2

There is no vaccine available against HCV, but there are treatments that can clear infection and halt liver disease progression. It is estimated that persons who were born between 1945 and 1965 account for about three-fourths of HCV-infected individuals and HCV-related deaths in the US. Therefore, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends onetime HCV testing for all persons born from 1945 to 1965 in addition to routine testing for individuals at high risk (e.g., injection drug users). Infected individuals can receive treatment that may reduce their risk of liver cancer and counseling to reduce the
risk of HCV transmission to others. Other preventive measures for HCV infection include screening of donated blood, organs, and tissues; adherence to infection control practices during medical, surgical, and dental procedures; and needle-exchange programs for injecting drug users. For more information on hepatitis infections, including who is at risk, visit the CDC Web site at cdc.gov/hepatitis/.Other risk factors for liver cancer, particularly in economically developing countries, include parasitic infections (schistosomiasis and liver flukes) and consumption of food contaminated with aflatoxin, a toxin produced by mold during the storage of agricultural products in a warm, humid environment.source: American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2013. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2013.