Hep C Discussion Forum

medusa · Guru

RE: moquitos are they flying syringes

greenqueen · Guru

Hi Annie,

It's very rare for Hep C to be detectable in the blood, 6 months after completion of TX

This extract is from HCV Advocate

Sustained Virological Response Persists Long-Term
The earliest and most convincing study demonstrating that a sustained response to antiviral therapy was associated with long-term histological improvement as well as biochemical and virological responses was reported by Marcellin and colleagues from France (6). In this study of 80 patients who had a 6-month sustained biochemical and virological response, mean follow-up of 4 years showed that 93% of patients had a persistently normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level and 96% had undetectable serum HCV RNA. A comparison of hepatic histology before and 1 to 6.2 years after completion of interferon therapy showed improvement in 94% of patients, and HCV RNA was undetectable 1 to 5 years after treatment in all 27 patients tested. In an analysis of 4 large trials in which 455 patients achieved a SVR with interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin and 103 with interferon alfa-2b monotherapy, the actuarial likelihood of maintaining response after a mean 4-year follow-up period ranged from 96% (relapsers who were retreated with interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin) to 99% (naïve patients who were treated for 48 weeks with interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin) (7). Thus, this analysis of a large study database confirmed that late relapse is rare in patients who remain HCV RNA negative 6 months after completion of interferon-based therapy. Multiple other smaller studies, including one study with a 10-year mean follow-up (8), showed that SVR predicts a high likelihood of long-term sustained biochemical and virological responses.

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hcsp/articles/Impact%20on%20Natural%20History.htm

Steff xx

medusa · Guru

Hi Steff, Thanks for the links below. I would agree that the risk of catching Hep C from mosquito bites is unlikely. However, two of the articles below are talking about HIV, not at all the same risk as Hep C, as HIV is a much more 'feeble' virus , in the sense that it is much more easy to kill , and cannot survive long under adverse conditions, as can Hep C. The article on 'hepatitis.about.com' seems to be confusing Hep C with HIV.
As you say the information about whether Hep C can really be eradicated by tx is an ongoing debate , only time and more accurate tests will tell. So far it seems to work for some of us , if the virus remains undetectable after a certain time. Have you heard of any instances of the virus coming back 2 years or more after successful tx ? I have seen statistics that indicate about 10% to 15% relapse of genotype 1a patients during the first six months post-tx.
Love Annie xxxxx

greenqueen · Guru

Hi Annie,

The sources of the info are listed below the article

_{Can I Get HIV From Mosquitoes? Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. October 20, 2006. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/qa32.htm}

_{Viral Hepatitis C. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. March 7, 2008. http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/DISEASES/HEPATITIS/c/faq.htm#s8}

_{Why Mosquitoes Cannot Transmit AIDS. Rutgers Cooperative Extension. http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~insects/aids.htm}

As for the ongoing debate about whether or not Hep C is curable, this may make uncomfortable reading

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?aBID=114015&p=3&topicID=25094142

The fact that the virus may not be detectable in the blood, doesn't mean to say it has been completely eradicated from the body and since the current Hep C RNA tests only test below a certain amount (not zero) of virus in the blood, then we can't be so sure.

If the medical profession were so sure that SVR meant "cure", then it would seem logical to assume that people who were "SVR" would then be able to donate blood and organs - this isn't the case.

Having said all that, many people who achieve SVR, go on to lead healthy lives and that's the best outcome we have at the present time

Steff xx

medusa · Guru

I still don't know about the mosquitos, but was alarmed by the other information given on the site 'hepatitis.about.com'. They state that ,'there is no cure for hepatitis c'; that it is a' very picky' and 'fragile' virus, that it 'doesn't last long in a harsh environment' , and ' wouldn't survive long enough to infect' (between the mosquito biting two people) BOLLOCKS!!!
This was the sort of dangerously inaccurate information being given out by government propaganda in the early 1980's. I wonder who sponsors this web site?

Vectorwoman · Senior Member

Thanks Greenqueen for the informatives links. I feel much better now. I now am relieved the mosquitos do not spread hepatitis.

medusa · Guru

I was interested to see this question, as it is something I have wondered about for a long time. We have a lot of biting insects here including mosquitos, spiders and sheep tics. These worry me the most , as they bury their heads under the skin and take their time to suck out a large quantity of blood. They spread Lymes disease, which is very prevalent in my area, and so why not Hep C
? They are not fussy about who's blood they suck, and my cats pick up hundreds in summer and so do I.

greenqueen · Guru

Hi,

This question has cropped up before and your doc is correct, Annie.

A quick web search brings up many links to info on this, so i'll just post a couple

http://hepatitis.about.com/od/prevention/a/mosquitoes.htm

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2008/04/can_insect_bite.html

Steff xx

hope87 · Veteran Member

I've wondered myself...because if they suck your blood then suck someone else's it would make sense that it could happen.

Vectorwoman · Senior Member

I ask my doc. (years ago) if the virus can be passed via moquitos. He said, "No." I'm not doctor but I disagree. I worry about thos when I am outside and get bit by one. I wonder if it then can go to someone else and spread the virus from me to them.

What do you think?

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