"Unpaid Volunteers Key in L.A.'s Fight Against Deadly Disease"

In Los Angeles County, the battle against hepatitis C relies on unpaid volunteers due to scant public funding, with a partnership between USC and the county public health department training volunteers to contact those infected and encourage treatment. The virus has taken a toll on marginalized populations, and obstacles such as limited resources and patient awareness contribute to the high number of untreated cases. While the Biden administration seeks funding to eliminate hepatitis C, the current initiative, Project Connect, relies on volunteers and faces limitations in reaching and treating patients.