A recent estimate found 500鈥�000 fewer US cases of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection compared with previous assessments.
The new estimate is based on HCV testing among participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2003 and 2010. Of some 30鈥�000 tested, about 1% were positive for chronic HCV infection. Extrapolated to the US population, the data indicate that 2.7 million US residents are living with HCV compared with 3.2 million suggested by NHANES data from 1999 to 2002. The researchers said increased death rates from HCV over the past decade may play a role.