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.