DEAR ABBY: The letter from Thelma King Thiel of the Hepatitis Foundation International caught my attention. Hepatitis C is, indeed, a dreadful disease. However, Mrs. Thiel failed to mention (as you did) that the great majority of hepatitis C sufferers contracted it from contaminated blood transfusions prior to 1990. Before then, there were no tests to isolate hepatitis C.
Stating that people contract this disease because of drug use or sexual contact stigmatizes a great number of people. Hepatitis C victims include doctors, lawyers -- people from all walks of life -- who have NOT used dirty needles. Please set the record straight. -- CAROLYN IN ARLINGTON, VA.
DEAR CAROLYN: I have received a stack of angry letters and e-mails pointing out this omission. Mrs. Thiel reports that she, too, has received letters and phone calls because of her oversight. My apologies to my readers.