Hepatitis C blood tests suggested for baby boomers

All baby boomers people born between 1945 and 1965 should get tested forhepatitis C, U.S. health officials recommend.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released draft recommendations Friday suggesting that Americans aged 47 to 67 get a blood test at least once for the liver infection.

Hepatitis C is most commonly spread through infected needles.

Chronic infection can cause inflammation of the liver, scarring of the organ, cirrhosis and other complications, including liver cancer.

In March, a Canadian liver specialistsaidhe's seeingincreasing numbersof people with hepatitis C.

Someexperimented with drugs as teenagers in the 1960s, were unknowinglyinfected and are now developing liver failure.

The CDC said it believes routine testing will address preventable consequences of the disease now thatexpensive new treatmentsare available.

The U.S. testing recommendation is expected to become final later this year.

Saturday is the first hepatitis testing day in the U.S., CDC said on its website.