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An estimated 4 million Americans are infected with the hepatitis C virus and 2.7 million are chronically infected, according to blood tests on 21,241 people participating in the third National Health and Nutrition Examination between 1988 and 1994. The biggest risk factors in this sample of people were illegal drug use and risky sexual practices. Poverty, lack of education and being divorced or separated were also risk factors.

The number of people infected with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) has increased substantially since the late 1970's. Questionnaires were completed and blood samples were analyzed from 40,000 people aged 12 years and older during 1988 to 1994 and compared with data collected on 28,000 similar subjects during 1976 to 1980. The percentage of HSV-2-infected individuals rose by 30% between these two time periods. Individuals most likely to be infected were women, Mexican-Americans, blacks, and those who were poor, uneducated, sexually active with multiple partners, older, or who used cocaine.

Many adults and elderly people may not be adequately immunized against tetanus. Data from 10,618 people six years of age and older examined during the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1988 and 1991 reveal that the percentage of people who are adequately immunized begins to drop substantially after the age of 40. Ninety-six percent of six-year-old children examined were adequately immunized, compared to 27.8% of those 70 years or older. Twenty percent of children aged 10 to 16 are not adequately immunized. A greater percentage of men were adequately protected longer, possibly because men have more accidents that require booster shots. The pattern of declining immunity was also present in blacks and Hispanics. A smaller percentage of the poor, uneducated and foreign-born had adequate protection against tetanus. Booster shots every 10 or 20 years may protect adults from tetanus.