Melissa Howell, MS, MBA, MPH, RN, RS, Health Commissioner Robert P. Dillaplain, MD, Medical Director News Release For Immediate Release Contact: Laurie Fox, Asst. Public Information Officer July 24, 2013 (937) 374-5669 or 1 (866) 858-3588
GCCHD Recognizes World Hepatitis Day, July 28, 2013
XENIA, OHIO -- Every year on July 28, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners mark World Hepatitis Day to increase the awareness and understanding of viral hepatitis and the diseases that it causes.
Hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D and E can cause acute and chronic infection and inflammation of the liver that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. These viruses constitute a major global health risk with around 240 million people being chronically infected with hepatitis B and around 150 million people chronically infected with hepatitis C.
For 2013, the overall theme continues to be "This is hepatitis. Know it. Confront it." The campaign emphasizes the fact that hepatitis remains largely unknown as a health threat in much of the world.
Millions of people are living with viral hepatitis and millions more are at risk of becoming infected. Most people with chronic infection with hepatitis B or C are unaware that they continue to carry the virus. They are therefore at high risk of developing severe chronic liver disease and can unknowingly transmit the virus to other people. Approximately one million people die each year from causes related to viral hepatitis, most commonly cirrhosis and liver cancer.
World Hepatitis Day provides an opportunity to focus on specific actions, such as: • Strengthening prevention, screening and control of viral hepatitis and its related diseases; • Increasing hepatitis B vaccine coverage and integration of the vaccine into national immunization programs; • Coordinating a global response to viral hepatitis.
Although the burden of disease related to hepatitis infection is very high, in most countries, the problem has not been addressed in a comprehensive way for many reasons. These include the fact that most people do not develop any symptoms when they become infected and that they remain free of symptoms often for decades until they develop chronic liver disease. This has largely resulted in "the silent epidemic" we are experiencing today.
Viral hepatitis also places a heavy burden on the health-care system because of the high costs of treatment of liver cancer and liver failure from cirrhosis. In many countries, liver failure from viral hepatitis is the leading reason for liver transplants. Such end-stage treatments are expensive, easily costing up to hundreds of thousands of dollars per person.
(continued) The date of July 28 was chosen for World Hepatitis Day in honor of the birthday of Nobel Laureate Professor Baruch Samuel Blumberg, discoverer of the hepatitis B virus.
Hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver cancer and millions of Americans have hepatitis C, but it is estimated that 75% of those infected don’t know it. This is because people can live with hepatitis C for decades without having symptoms or feeling sick. Hepatitis C is found in the blood, but it is not screened for in routine blood work. Getting tested is the only way to know if you are infected. The CDC currently recommends hepatitis C testing for all people born between 1945-1965 as well as anyone who has been exposed to blood either through a needle stick injury, blood transfusion prior to 1992 or sharing injection drug use equipment, even if only one time. Early detection of hepatitis C can save lives and improve treatment outcomes.
Free rapid hepatitis C testing is offered at the offices of the GCCHD, 360 Wilson Dr., Xenia on the first and third Wednesday of every month from 1:00 to 3:00pm on a walk-in basis or on other days by appointmen t. For more information regarding hepatitis C testing, please contact HIV Health Educator, Kirsten Bean, at (937) 374-5646 or [email protected] .
The GCCHD also holds immunization clinics that offer vaccinations for hepatitis A and B. Walk-ins are accepted. Times and days are listed below: • Every Tuesday: 8:00 - 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 - 3:00 p.m. • Second and Fourth Thursday of every month: 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
FOR MORE INFORMATION on clinics and available services at GCCHD, please call 937-374-5600 or toll free at 1-866-858-3588. You can also visit the website at www.gcchd.org.
Greene County Combined Health District – Your center for public health services and information in Greene County for over 90 years. Healthy People…Healthy Communities
360 Wilson Drive Xenia, OH 45385 937-374-5600 * 866-858-3588 * Fax 937-374-5675 www.gcchd.org ###