Title
Declaring May 2015 to be Hepatitis Awareness Month in Philadelphia to recognize and support the joint efforts of "Hep B United Philadelphia" and "Hepatitis C Allies of Philadelphia" coalitions aimed at raising the profile of Viral Hepatitis as an urgent local health priority.
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WHEREAS, The Hepatitis B and C viruses are serious public health concerns; an estimated 4.4 million Americans and over 65,000 Philadelphians are living with these viruses, which are leading causes of liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplantation; most people infected with hepatitis B and C do not even know they are infected; and
WHEREAS, 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; and
WHEREAS, Over 20,000 Philadelphians are living with hepatitis B and the majority of those infected are unaware of their infection; more people need to be tested because this lifelong infection can be controlled with medication, thereby halting progression to liver cancer, liver failure and death; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia's Asian communities are disproportionately affected, with infection rates ranging from 4%-23% but fortunately, they are supported by Hep B United Philadelphia, celebrating its 5th year as the largest local community-based coalition working to eliminate health disparities faced by Asian Philadelphians; and
WHEREAS, Hepatitis C is the most common bloodborne infection in the U.S. and since a majority of people living with the virus do not even know they are infected, hepatitis C now kills more people than HIV/AIDS; and
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