Call 2-1-1 for Local Hep C Info. & Referrals - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

AUW 2-1-1 to add Hepatitis Resources to their Info. & Referral Hotline # in HI

PRESS RELEASE

In recognition of National Hepatitis Awareness Month, May 2003, the Hepatitis Prevention, Education, Treatment, and Support Network of Hawaii is focusing attention on Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver that can lead to permanent liver problems, including cirrhosis (scarring) and liver failure. Nearly four million Americans are believed to have been infected with the virus, making it the most common, chronic, blood borne infection in the United States.

People with Hepatitis C may not feel sick and therefore may not know they have it until liver damage occurs. A vaccine is not available against the virus. The disease is spread mainly through the blood and key risk factors include ever using injection drugs and sharing injection equipment, or receiving a blood transfusion or organ transplantation before safer procedures were begun in 1992. It is important to be checked out for Hepatitis C and its risk factors, since there is much people can do to reduce their likelihood of exposure to the Hepatitis C virus; and if the disease is present, to lessen liver damage and the risk of exposing others.

People who want to be tested for hepatitis C are encouraged to talk with their physician to receive more education and follow-up care. People may also purchase a Hepatitis C Test Kit from the Home Access Health Corporation website at www.homeaccess.com to see if they have been infected with Hepatitis C. This service has trained counselors to provide callers with information about hepatitis C as well as physician referral information.

Ken Akinaka, MRA, Co-founder of the Hepatitis Prevention, Education, Treatment, and Support Network of Hawai`i, says that "one of our goals for this summer is to help our communities learn about hepatitis resources in Hawai`i. We are working with Aloha United Way to add hepatitis resources to the information and referral number in Hawaii.” If you have questions about hepatitis in Hawai`i, you can now call 2-1-1 and an Aloha United Way Information and Referral Specialist can direct you to a number of Hepatitis resources in Hawai`i. 2-1-1 is a free call from anywhere in Hawai`i, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and all calls are confidential.

NEWS !!! 5/1/03 OUR HEP NETWORK'S HEPATITIS C RESOLUTION SCR16 PASSES !!!

THE SENATE
S.C.R. NO.
16

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003
S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII
H.D. 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO DEVELOP PUBLIC HEALTH strategies to address the hepatitis c problem.

WHEREAS, chronic hepatitis C has been classified as a silent killer and is the most common chronic blood borne viral infection in the United States; and

WHEREAS, nearly 2 in every 100 Americans are infected with hepatitis C; and

WHEREAS, hepatitis C can go undiagnosed for as long as 20 years since infected persons are frequently asymptomatic; and

WHEREAS, hepatitis C is now the leading cause of liver disease and it is estimated that the death rate will increase over the next ten years to 30,000 deaths per year; and

WHEREAS, approximately 33 percent of all persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are co-infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV); and

WHEREAS, the hepatitis C rate among veterans is roughly four times the rate of the general population; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that there may be over 20,000 people who have been infected with hepatitis C living in Hawaii and many of them are not aware of their infection because they are not chronically ill; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that between 17 and 35 percent of inmates residing in Hawaii prisons are infected with hepatitis C, which presents a dangerous situation for prisoners, corrections staff, and the public as these individuals are released on parole; and

WHEREAS, persons infected with hepatitis C serve as a source of transmission to others and are at risk of developing chronic liver disease, liver cancer, and other HCV-related diseases, such as Type II diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and other chronic conditions that can lead to liver failure; and

WHEREAS, because alcohol consumption is a contributing factor in the progression of chronic liver disease among persons with HCV, it is important to identify infected individuals as early as possible so that they can be educated about the virus, liver disease, and avoiding alcohol consumption; and

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) "National Hepatitis C Prevention Strategy 2001" recommends and advocates increasing the capacity of existing HIV/sexually transmitted disease/drug abuse services to include prevention, testing, and identification activities for hepatitis C; and

WHEREAS, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Statement for the Management of Hepatitis C (2002) (NIH Statement) recommends implementing prevention education to reduce transmission of the virus and promoting screening tests and treatment for groups at high risk of HCV infection; and

WHEREAS, the NIH Statement states that in the United States, the estimated seroprevalence of HCV is two to three percent among partners of HCV-infected persons who are in long-term monogamous relationships and is four to six percent among those at high risk for sexually transmitted diseases; and

WHEREAS, the NIH Statement further states that for heterosexual, discordant monogamous couples, the risk of transmission is estimated to be only up to .6 percent annually; and

WHEREAS, because of the low risk of HCV transmission, monogamous couples do not need to use barrier protection although condoms may reduce the risk of transmission; and

WHEREAS, sharing common household items that may be contaminated with blood, such as razors and toothbrushes, is another potential source of transmission of HCV that should be avoided; and

WHEREAS, hepatitis C community organizations have limited access to funding from federal, state, public, or private agencies for planning, health education, screening, and patient care services for HCV positive individuals; and

WHEREAS, hepatitis C is most common among 40 to 59-year-olds who were exposed to the virus 20 to 30 years ago, who will not be reached by the CDC National Prevention Strategy recommendations, and who are at greatest risk for progression to liver failure and liver cancer; and

WHEREAS, while there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, there are new treatments available that can eliminate the virus or slow disease progression; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Health address the issue of hepatitis C-related issues by:

(1) Developing a plan to address hepatitis C and work collaboratively with community-based organizations and health providers;

(2) Conducting surveillance to monitor and evaluate the epidemiology of infection rates for hepatitis C;

(3) Considering integrating prevention and education activities into state and local public health programs for individuals at greatest risk and assessing the costs related to these activities;

(4) Considering counseling and screening persons at greatest risk for HCV infection and assessing the costs related to these activities;

(5) Considering the availability of hepatitis C-related treatment for those cases where treatment is indicated and assessing the costs related to making these services available to those who otherwise would not have access to treatment services; and

(6) Promoting professional education of health care professionals based on current information concerning diagnosis, medical management, and prevention recently described by the CDC and the NIH;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health provide the Legislature with a briefing on the content of the strategic plan to address the hepatitis C problem in Hawaii no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2004; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.

Report Title:

Hepatitis C; Public Health Strategies

Informative News Sites

1) The Best Free Hep C Monthly Newsletter on the Internet
2) Hep Network Plan for 2003
3) Hep Network Yr-to-Date Report 4/28/03