THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY SCAVELLO, ARGALL, BAKER, BEAR, BELFANTI, BEYER, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DALLY, DELOZIER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, J. EVANS, EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HELM, HENNESSEY, HICKERNELL, KILLION, KORTZ, KOTIK, MAJOR, McCALL, MELIO, MILLARD, MOUL, MURT, MYERS, OBERLANDER, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PAYNE, PICKETT, QUINN, REICHLEY, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SEIP, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STERN, HESS, STEVENSON, SWANGER, TRUE, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WALKO, WATSON, WHEATLEY AND YOUNGBLOOD, MARCH 24, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 24, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of May 2009 as "Hepatitis Awareness Month"

in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Hepatitis is a liver disease caused by one of five

forms of the hepatitis virus; and

WHEREAS, Hepatitis infects individuals of all ages, ethnic

groups and socioeconomic classes in urban and rural areas of

this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, The hepatitis viruses, designated as A, B, C, D and

E, cause infections which are generally asymptomatic but which

lead to liver inflammation; and

WHEREAS, Hepatitis A is contracted primarily through

contaminated food or water; and

WHEREAS, Hepatitis C is the leading reason for liver

transplantation and now exceeds HIV/AIDS by a 5 to 1 ratio; and

WHEREAS, On average, two people are diagnosed with hepatitis-

related liver disease and two people die from liver cancer each

day in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The World Health Organization has characterized

hepatitis B and hepatitis C as diseases of primary concern for

humanity; and

WHEREAS, Hepatitis A and hepatitis B can easily be prevented

through awareness of transmission routes and through available

vaccines; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 280,000 residents of this Commonwealth

are infected with hepatitis C, and 75% to 85% of these persons

are chronically infected; and

WHEREAS, In the absence of 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; and

WHEREAS, Chronic viral hepatitis is a disease with little or

no public awareness since it is largely asymptomatic until

irreversible liver damage has occurred; and

WHEREAS, In the past year, five new hepatitis screening sites

have opened in this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, There remains a need for more hepatitis screening

and testing sites in this Commonwealth; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

month of May 2009 as "Hepatitis Awareness Month" in

Pennsylvania; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage State

agencies, health care providers and residents of this

Commonwealth to learn and educate others about the causes,

symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis, with prevention

being the primary focus among younger Pennsylvanians; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage State

agencies and health care providers to integrate hepatitis

services with existing services that target similar risks

groups, such as HIV and AIDS targeted populations, and to

connect persons with hepatitis with appropriate care using the

Commonwealth's resource directory.