2019 ACA Boston Program Book_149th Congress of Correction

Health Care Special Session and Luncheon VIRAL HEPATITIS Prevention and Control in Correctional Settings Saturday, Aug. 3 • 12:30–1:45 p.m. Hynes Convention Center, Ballroom A Noele Nelson M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.

Session overview: Viral hepatitis is of growing concern in correctional settings. The involvement of the correctional com- munity is essential for viral hepatitis prevention and control. During 2016–2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received approximately 15,000 reports of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections from U.S. states and territories, indicating a recent increase in transmission. Since 2017, the vast majority of these reports were related to multiple outbreaks of infections among persons reporting drug use or homelessness. Therefore, people who are currently or were recently incarcerated are considered to be one of the highest risk groups for acquiring HAV infection in these outbreaks. The prevalence of chronic hepa- titis B virus (HBV) infection has been higher among prison inmates, reflecting an overrepresentation of persons entering correctional facilities with risks for HBV infection (e.g., injection-drug use and histories

of multiple sex partners). Recently there has been a national increase in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection incidence due primarily to the opioid crisis. People who inject drugs represent a group at particularly high risk for HCV infection. These topics will be discussed, and a brief overview of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) hepatitis A and B vac- cine recommendations and the plans for updating the CDC guidelines on the prevention and control of hep- atitis viruses in correctional settings will be provided. Learning objectives: • Identify the at-risk groups for the ongoing hepati- tis A outbreaks in the United States. • Describe the Advisory Committee on Immuniza- tion Practices recommendations for hepatitis B vaccine in correctional facilities. • Recognize the association of injection drug use with the increase in hepatitis C virus infection incidence.

About the speaker: Dr. Noele Nelson is the Acting Branch Chief for the Prevention Branch, Division of Viral Hepatitis, CDC. Dr. Nelson joined the Division of Viral Hepatitis at the CDC in 2013 and she is responsible for overseeing national efforts to test, implement and monitor hepatitis B and C screening, linkage to care and treatment interven-

tions, and perinatal hepatitis B and C prevention. In addition, Dr. Nelson focuses on hepatitis A and B vaccine recommendation development as the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices hepatitis vaccines work group lead. She earned a Master’s in Public Health (1996), a M.D. from the Medical School for International Health (2004) and a Ph.D. from Ben Gurion University in Epidemiology (2005). She completed her residency training in Pediatrics at Georgetown University Medical Center (2007).

This luncheon is made possible by an unrestricted educational grant by Centurion LLC.

34