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Hepatitis C rate high in trucker study

A New Mexico survey of long-haul truckers showed high rates of hepatitis C, but many infected were unaware they had it.

The state health department’s research is the first nationwide effort to examine infection rates and high risk behaviors among truckers.

The researchers examined sexually transmitted infections, HIV and hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus prevalence and risk behaviors among 652 truck drivers at 11 New Mexico truck stops. While 8.5 percent of truckers tested positive for hepatitis C, only one trucker tested positive for HIV, one for gonorrhea and one for syphilis.

Eleven percent of drivers had injected drugs at least once, which researchers believe is what most likely accounted for the high rate of hepatitis C.

Dr. Steve Jenison, medical director for New Mexico’s health department’s Infectious Diseases Bureau, conducted the research from 2004-2006.

“We know from other international studies that long-haul truck drivers in some countries have high rates of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV, but we wanted to learn if that was true in the United States,” Jenison said. “We also learned from the study that some of the truck drivers who were hepatitis C positive also engaged in risky behavior such as binge drinking, which puts them at higher risk for complications if they have hepatitis C,”

Drivers should consider hepatitis C testing and seek medical help if they have the disease, especially if they ever injected drugs or received blood transfusions prior to 1992.

“Despite the low measured prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in the study, many drivers reported sexual behaviors that would place them at risk for acquiring these infections, including HIV,” he said. “Truck drivers who have contact with casual partners or commercial sex workers while on the road should follow safer sex practices including consistent condom use.”

The American Journal of Public Health published the study Sept. 17. The study was done in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through a cooperative agreement with the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research.

More information on the disease is available at here or by calling 800-CDC-INFO or 800-232-4636.

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