The Snohomish Health District works to prevent and limit the spread of viral hepatitis by testing and offering vaccines to people most at risk.

A nurse regularly visits the Snohomish County Needle Exchange, jails, treatment centers, and homeless shelters as part of the agency’s public health outreach program.

“A discouraging trend is an increase in hepatitis C among young people who use drugs,” said Nurse Kathy Perkins, of the Hepatitis Outreach Program. “People with hep C die 23 years earlier than average. Doctors need to talk to their patients, assess risks, test for and treat viral hepatitis.”

Vaccines to prevent hepatitis A and B are recommended for people at risk. There is no vaccine against hepatitis C.

The Snohomish Health District will have information about viral hepatitis in its Everett building and at local libraries to recognize World Hepatitis Day on July 28.

Learn more at www.worldhepatitisday.org.