Hepatitis rates must be measured

Hepatitis B and C are serious and potentially life-threatening liver diseases that affect hundreds of thousands of Canadians.

by Dr. Morris Sherman

In the article, Sask. Hep. C rate is double average (SP, July 29), about the rate of hepatitis C in Canada, there are two errors. Dr. Saqib Shabab suggests that the provincial rate of 60 per 100,000 is double the national rate when in fact the national rate is unknown.

There are several estimates, ranging from 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent (50 to 150 cases per 100,000). Thus, we can see that the Saskatchewan rate is toward the lower end of the various estimates of the national rate. We do not have national data because no jurisdiction has undertaken the necessary study.

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