Deaths stemming from hepatitis C in the United States rose to a record high in 2014 despite government moves to control this infectious disease and the existence of new medicines capable of curing most infections.

Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 19,659 deaths caused by hepatitis C in 2014, a record number. CDC said some 3.5 million Americans live with chronic hepatitis C and believes half of those might not even know they're infected by this infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus that mainly attacks the liver.

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It also said the death toll exceeded the combined deaths from 60 other infectious diseases including HIV and tuberculosis. Disturbingly, new cases of hepatitis C have doubled, mainly among young, white drug users.

Left untreated, hepatitis C often leads to liver disease with some patients developing complications such as liver cancer or liver failure. It's spread mostly by blood-to-blood contact from intravenous drug use and poorly sterilized medical equipment, among other causes.

The CDC also revealed a dismaying rise in new cases of hepatitis C, mostly among persons with a history of using injectable drugs. New cases of hepatitis C infection more than doubled from 2010 to 2014.

"Not everyone is getting tested and diagnosed, people don't get referred to care as fully as they should, and then they are not being placed on treatment," said Dr. John Ward, director of CDC's division of viral hepatitis.

CDC believes that because of limited screening and underreporting, the true number of new infections is close to 30,000 per year rather than the 2,194 cases reported in 2014.

"So both deaths and new infections are on the rise," said Dr. Ward.

"These statistics represent the two battles that we are fighting. We must act now to diagnose and treat hidden infections before they become deadly, and to prevent new infections."

TagsHepatitis C, United States, U.S. Centers For Disease Control And Prevention