U.S.: Vertical HCV Transmission on the Rise

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Number of infected women and offspring increasing nationally

Mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is increasing nationally, though the problem is particularly prevalent in Kentucky, CDC researchers reported.

Nationally, the number of infants born to women testing positive for HCV rose 68% — from 0.19% (one in 536) to 0.32% (one in 308). But Kentucky experienced a 124% increase in that same time period, reported Alaya Koneru, MPH, and colleagues.

Writing in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the authors found similar patterns between the entire U.S. and Kentucky when examining HCV detection rates among women and children. They examined birth certificates as well as testing data from Quest Diagnostics.

Among women of child-bearing age, detection of HCV increased 14% nationally, while skyrocketing 213% in Kentucky. Detection among children ages two years of age and older was up 22% in the U.S., but 151% in Kentucky during the same time period.