Title
Recognizing May 2025 as Hepatitis Awareness Month in Philadelphia in support of the joint efforts of Hep B United Philadelphia and Hepatitis C Allies of Philadelphia aimed at promoting testing for all Philadelphians and raising the profile of viral hepatitis and its connection to liver cancer as urgent health priorities.
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WHEREAS, Hepatitis B and C viruses are serious public health concerns; an estimated seven million Americans and at least 48,000 Philadelphians are living with these viruses, which are leading causes of liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplants; most people living with hepatitis B and C are not aware of their infection. Hepatitis B is the world's most serious liver infection, causing over 80% of primary liver cancer cases in the world, disproportionately impacting people of Asian, Pacific Islander, and African descent; killing 1 in 4 chronically infected persons prematurely from cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure; and
WHEREAS, Hepatitis B is completely preventable with a safe and effective vaccine but less than 40% of high-risk individuals are vaccinated against hepatitis B. Hepatitis C is the most common blood borne infection in the U.S. and since a majority of people living with the virus do not even know they are infected, hepatitis C despite having a cure now kills more people than HIV/AIDS; and
WHEREAS, In the U.S., liver cancer is the only cancer that continues to rise in new cases and deaths each year, for both men and women, primarily due to infections with hepatitis B and hepatitis C. 34,000 people each year are diagnosed with liver cancer; the 5-year survival rate for liver cancer is only 20%; 27,000 people each year die from liver cancer in the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, Hepatitis B and C testing followed by treatment is associated with a 50%-80% reduction in the risk of liver cancer. At least 25,000 Philadelphians are living with hepatitis B, and key populations need to learn their status so their in...
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