There's growing concern about the rising number of deaths from Hepatitis C.
Federal health officials are considering whether baby boomers, or people born between 1945 and 1965, should get a one-time blood test to find out if they're infected.
Many believe that test could mean the difference between life and death. It's a silent disease that can kill. Health officials say a person can be infected for decades with Hepatitis C and not show any symptoms until it's too late.
"Most people get it and they never know they have it until they start getting in stage disease and then their belly bloats up and then they start retaining fluid and by then they already have liver disease, to where now they can't even take the medicine anymore," said Dr. Peter Gulick, Infectious Disease Specialist.
Hundreds, if not thousands of people across mid-Michigan could be infected with the Hepatitis C virus and not even know it. Health officials say many people think the disease only attacks the liver and that's not true.
"There's evidence that it can cause diabetes, there's evidence it can cause vasculitis of their skin, there's evidence it can cause kidney disease, there's even evidence it might go to the brain and cause changes in your cognitive functioning," said Gulick.
There are serious consequences for a disease doctors say can be cured.
Government statistics show 2/3 of people with Hepatitis C are baby boomers. They're people who can benefit from two new drugs on the market.
"We're going to have and we already have meds that are effective and have even better meds in the future and they're curable," said Gulick.
They're new treatments that can save lives, but to get it you have to know if you're infected.
Health officials say everyone should talk to their doctor about the risk factors with Hepatitis C. They include having un-protected sex with an infected person, injecting street drugs or sharing a needle, or if you've received a blood transfusion before July 1992.
Again, if you were born between 1945 and 1965 health officials urge you to ask your doctor to be tested.
