Some people may be more at risk from disease than others. in many developing countries, people may be short of food or may not have access to clean water. In such circumstances, they are at risk from nutritional diseases such as scurvy and rickets, as well as those that thrive in areas with poor sanitation, such as cholera and hepatitis. In industrialized nations, the population may have an increased risk of cancer and heart disease, brought about by high-fat diets and unhealthy lifestyles.
Some groups of people appear to be at higher risk of more complicated or severe illness, including:
- Pregnant women;
- Infants and young children particularly under age 2;
- people of any age with certain chronic health conditions (including asthma or lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease or some neurological conditions);
- People with severely compromised immune systems.
Currently, people age 65 or older are the least likely to be infected with the pandemic influenza, but those who do get sick are also at high risk of developing serious complications, just as they are from seasonal flu.
Who recommends that pregnant women, or others at higher risk of severe illness and their caregivers, be vaccinated against pandemic influenza and take all the necessary precautions, including hygiene measures, to prevent the spread of illness.
Vaccination against the pandemic influenza is prudent for everyone to reduce chances of infection.
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is spread primarily by contact with blood and blood products. Blood transfusions and the sharing of used needles and syringes have been the main causes of the spread of HCV in the United States. With the introduction in 1991 of routine blood screening for HCV antibody and improvements in the test in mid-1992, transfusion-related hepatitis C has virtually disappeared. At present, injection drug use is the most common risk factor for contracting the disease. However, there are patients who get hepatitis C without any known exposure to blood or to drug use.
Those individuals most at risk for hepatitis C infection are:
- People who had blood transfusions, blood products, or organ donations before June, 1992, when sensitive tests for HCV were introduced for blood screening.
- Health care workers who suffer needle-stick accidents.
- Injection drug users, including those who may have used drugs once many years ago.
- Infants born to HCV-infected mothers.
- Other groups who appear to be at slightly increased risk for hepatitis C are:
- People with high-risk sexual behavior, multiple partners, and sexually transmitted diseases.
- People who snort cocaine using shared equipment.
- People who have shared toothbrushes, razors and other personal items with a family member that is HCV-infected.
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