Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 4, 2015 10:46 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Matthew E. Baker |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Hepatitis Awareness Month |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce a House Resolution recognizing May 2015 as “Hepatitis Awareness Month” and May 19th as “Hepatitis Testing Day” in Pennsylvania. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver and also refers to a group of viral infections that affect the liver. Viral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplantation. Every year, approximately 15,000 Americans die from liver cancer or chronic liver disease associated with viral hepatitis. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 75 percent of Hepatitis C infection occurs in people born between 1945 and 1965 — Baby Boomers. Many individuals living with viral hepatitis are unaware of their infection status. Since there is currently not a vaccine for Hepatitis C, emphasis must be placed on other means of disease prevention, including education of health care workers, emergency services workers, veterans and the general public. Chronic hepatitis infections are a silent epidemic affecting more than five million Americans and more than 130,000 Pennsylvanians, according to the CDC. Therefore, I am introducing this resolution to increase awareness about the importance of screening. Thank you for your interest and support. |
Introduced as HR331