Hepatitis C could become 'AIDS of the 21st Century,' New York lawmaker warns

• Warning that hepatitis C could become "the AIDS of the 21st century," Sen.
• Chuck Schumer came to Long Island yesterday to push for more resources to fight the virus.
• Suffolk County has recorded about 7,000 cases of hepatitis C, while 4,365 cases have been reported in Nassau, health officials said.
• "We really don't know the rate of new infections that occur on Long Island, but we do know that the burden of hepatitis C will continue to grow," Ackman said.
• Hepatitis C is one of a group of infectious viruses that attack the liver, and if left untreated it can cause permanent liver damage.
• Experts still don't fully understand how hepatitis C is transmitted.
• But the Centers for Disease Control estimates that 60% of new cases are caused by needles shared by intravenous drug users.
• Ackman said needle exchange programs could be one step in reducing the infection rate on the Island.
• The virus also is spread by unclean body piercing tools and tattoo needles.
• "It has been transmitted through tattoos in prison settings, where obviously you don't have licensed tattoo products," Ackman said.
• People who had blood transfusions more than 12 years ago - before there was proper screening against the virus - also are at risk.
• And drug users who snort drugs such as cocaine or crystal meth are putting themselves at risk for infection.
• That's because users often share straws, and the tiny blood drops sometimes left on those straws can be infectious, Ackman said.
• Also, using drugs leads to high-risk behavior such as unprotected sex, Schumer said.
• It's unclear to what extent unprotected sex plays a role in the virus' transmission, but Ackman estimated that it accounts for 10% to 15% of the new cases.