News & Highlights
Management of Hepatitis B: An NIH Consensus
Development Conference
October 20–22, 2008
Natcher Conference Center | NIH campus |
Bethesda, Maryland
Registration and additional information: www.consensus.nih.gov
Cost: Free
Read more
This activity has been approved for AMA PRA
Category 1 Credit(s)™
July 25, 2008
Re: Steering Committee Election 2008
We had a stellar slate for this year’s steering committee election and more than two-thirds of our voting members participated in the vote. On behalf of the sitting steering committee, I want to thank all of the candidates. It is great to know that so many people are willing to volunteer their time to serve NVHR and our constituents! Congratulations to our winners. They will be installed to three-year terms beginning in September. The winning candidates are:
| Name | Number of Votes | Percent of votes |
| Jeff Caballero, AAPCHO | 20 | 45% |
| Chris Taylor, NASTAD | 26 | 59% |
| Joan Block, Hepatitis B Foundation | 24 | 54.5% |
May 20, 2008
You are Cordially Invited to Attend a
Congressional Luncheon Briefing
“Zero Tolerance for Hepatitis B:
the Health Needs of
Women and Children”
Presented by the Hepatitis B Foundation and the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations
With Special Guests:
The Honorable Michael Honda (D-CA)
The Honorable Charlie Dent (R-PA)
and
California State Assemblywoman Fiona Ma
Sharing Her Personal Fight Against Hepatitis B
Date: May 20, 2008
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 P.M.
Location: HC-6 of the US Capitol Building
Hepatitis B is the deadliest disease that can be prevented through infant vaccination. Each year, however, 20,000 babies are born to women with hepatitis B and 1,500 of these newborns are chronically infected at birth. Tragically, this cycle of perinatal transmission continues because infected women are not receiving the education and care needed to manage this serious liver disease. With a safe vaccine and six approved therapies for hepatitis B, no woman or child should be left behind in the U.S.
This briefing is in compliance with Congressional ethics guidelines and can be defined as a “widely attended event.”
December 20, 2007
Dear NVHR Members and Sponsors:
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR), I am writing to provide an update on Coalition activities and let you know about some upcoming opportunities. 2007 has been a year of transition for NVHR, but we look forward to continue working with the membership and sponsors in 2008 to address viral hepatitis in the United States.
This past summer, NVHR Chair Molli Conti resigned from her position as the Executive Director of the Hepatitis B Foundation, and thus her position on the NVHR board, to work at Bristol-Myers Squibb. We were sorry to lose Molli’s expertise, but we are excited about her new role which will include working closely with the hepatitis B advocacy community. As the Vice-Chair, I have transitioned to Chair of NVHR since Molli’s departure. You may also know that Dick Conlon, NVHR administrator retired this summer. Since the organization’s inception, Dick’s leadership and vision kept NVHR moving forward. We will greatly miss Dick and his shoes will be difficult to fill.
The board is taking the next 3 -6 months to develop a long-term leadership strategy and action plan for NVHR. We began this work at a recent board retreat where we outlined an immediate action plan. In the short-term, we have asked Martha Saly to assume the position of interim administrator. This move to interim administrator required Martha to step down from the Executive Committee of the Board. In her new role, Martha will help us take the next steps in planning for NVHR’s future. As we develop these plans, it is important that we hear what is important to our membership. Martha will be making contact with each member organization over the next couple of months to discuss your thoughts on how NVHR can best serve the needs of the viral hepatitis community.
Also in the next few months, we will be looking to fill vacant seats on the Board of Directors, planning World Hepatitis Awareness Month observances and updating our website. On January 10, 2008 at 3 PM EST, we would like to invite you to a special all member call. This will be an opportunity for NVHR member organizations to provide input to the CDC Division of Viral Hepatitis as they prepare for the next round of funding under the Viral Hepatitis Education and Training (VHET) program. We ask that you RSVP by Friday, January 4, 2008. At that time, we will send you call in information as well as background information on the VHET program. Please RVSP to Martha Saly at mbsaly@sbcglobal.net.
In 2008 we look forward to re-engaging with our membership and reaching out to other organizations, federal agencies and industry partners. Rest assured that NVHR is committed to continuing its pursuit of the elimination of viral hepatitis. May the coming year be full of exciting opportunities, continued dedication and strengthened relationships! Please feel free to contact me at ctaylor@NASTAD.org or Martha Saly at mbsaly@sbcglobal.net at any time.
Sincerely,
Chris Taylor
Chair, National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable
World Hepatitis Day Update
The International Steering Committee planning World Hepatitis Day met several months ago and agreed that the first World Hepatitis Day would be held on May 19th 2008. The aim of this single international day focusing on chronic viral hepatitis (B & C) is to raise awareness of these diseases within the general public, people at risk, healthcare providers and governments. Various themes will be developed over time, such as the need for testing, prevention, access to treatment and vaccination.
The Steering Committee is in the process of selecting a marketing firm to assist with the development of a theme, logo, materials and strategy to coordinate events on various levels (local, regional, national, international). Input provided by advocates earlier this year has been shared with the Steering Committee and will help shape the marketing of this important event.
It is not too soon to be thinking about how you may recognize World Hepatitis Day in your city/county/state/region. Hepatitis awareness has been recognized at different times throughout the year, or for varying lengths of time. The designation of May 19th as World Hepatitis Day does not mean that organizations cannot continue to recognize other days/weeks/months, but is an effort to coordinate as much attention on one single day.
As more developments regarding planning are released, I will be sure to share the information widely. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you for your continued interest and dedication!
Chris Taylor, Viral Hepatitis Program Manager
National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors
ctaylor@NASTAD.org
This is an official CDC Health Advisory
Distributed via Health Alert
Network
July 19, 2007, 12:01 EDT (12:01 PM EDT)
Hepatitis A infections Linked to Children Adopted from Ethiopia and their Family Contacts
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently received reports of hepatitis A in children and adults linked to adoptees from Ethiopia. Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. Symptoms usually occur abruptly and include fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), and diarrhea. Jaundice is common in adults but rare in children. Most children under the age of 6 years do not get sick from the infection, but can spread it to older children and adults, who often become ill. Older persons and persons with chronic liver disease can have more serious illness. The overall mortality rate from hepatitis A is 0.3%, but it is 1.8% among persons aged ™50 years. Symptoms generally last up to 2 months; there is no chronic (long-term) form of the disease.
The virus is found in the stool (feces) of persons with hepatitis A. It is usually spread from person to person by putting something in the mouth that has been contaminated with stool. Frequent hand washing with soap and water, particularly after using the bathroom, changing a diaper, and before preparing or eating food, is very important in preventing the spread of hepatitis A.
To prevent hepatitis A virus infections, CDC recommends that travelers to areas with high rates of hepatitis A, including Ethiopia, receive hepatitis A vaccine as soon as travel is considered. CDC also recommends that all children ™ 1 year of age receive the hepatitis A vaccine. Other household members and caregivers of children adopted from Ethiopia should consider being vaccinated before adopted children are brought to the United States.
Adopted children, household members or other persons experiencing symptoms of hepatitis A should contact a health-care provider for an evaluation. Persons exposed to hepatitis A who have not been previously immunized should contact their health-care provider or local health department to determine if they should receive an immunization or immunoglobulin that might prevent the illness. More information about hepatitis A is available at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis.
CDC recommends that all international travelers consult a travel health-care provider 4-6 weeks prior to travel to determine if any other measures, such as immunizations or medications, are indicated for the planned itinerary. Vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles and mumps, are still common in many parts of the world, including developed countries. The CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov/travel/) has a specific section for Traveling with Children, which includes general health advice for international adoptees and their adoptive parents, and Travel Notices, which describe current disease information of interest to travelers.
CDC
Response to Appropriations Report Language
In the Congressional Justification
|
PROGRAM |
FY2006 Final |
FY2007 Pending H J Res 20 |
FY2008 President’s Budget Request |
|
Viral Hepatitis |
$17.6 m
|
$17.6 m (0) |
$17.6 m (0) |
HOUSE REPORT NO. 109-515A
Hepatitis – . . . . The Committee is concerned that more than 75 percent of the 4,000,000 people with hepatitis C are unaware of their condition and urges CDC to support a campaign of public announcements that will highlight the need for appropriate screening and medical follow up for target populations. The Committee also encourages the Division of Viral Hepatitis to collaborate with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to implement improved HCV screening programs for HIV-infected individuals served by HRSA programs.
Action taken or to be taken
Awareness of infection status has increased significantly from the 1990s, when only 25% of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected persons had knowledge of their infection. However, approximately half of HCV-positive individuals remain unaware of their infection status and, therefore, of their potential risk for serious liver disease or liver cancer. During FY 2006, CDC funded seven organizations to develop, evaluate, and distribute educational materials on viral hepatitis for health professionals, patients, and the public. These and other informational materials are also available online, and in 2006, approximately 600,000 persons used the Internet to access this information about viral hepatitis. CDC works with the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, whose member organizations have developed educational materials and campaigns to increase knowledge and awareness of hepatitis. To improve collaboration with the Health Resources and Services Administration (CDC/HRSA), the CDC/HRSA Advisory Committee on HIV and STD Prevention and Treatment has offered to advise both agencies regarding collaborative efforts to improve prevention and control of viral hepatitis.
[Prevention and medical management of hepatitis B] – The Committee encourages the Division of Viral Hepatitis to develop and implement a plan for prevention and medical management of hepatitis B, including strategies for expanded vaccination, preventive education, surveillance and early detection.
Action taken or to be taken
To expand hepatitis B (HBV) prevention efforts, CDC and the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices recently updated the national recommendations that guide HBV vaccination for infants, children, adolescents, and adults. The federal support provided to implement routine childhood and adolescent vaccination has resulted in large reductions in the incidence of acute HBV. However, vaccination coverage among adults at risk for HBV infection remains low. In 2005, most of the 50,000 persons newly infected with HBV were adults. In the absence of a national vaccination program for adults, CDC encourages all state and local health agencies to use funds from Section 317 of the Public Health Service Act to increase support for adult HBV vaccination. In FY 2006, CDC issued new guidance to help immunization programs identify and manage persons with chronic HBV, reflecting the value of new treatments for infected persons and the HBV vaccination of their close contacts. In FY 2007, CDC will convene a consultation of experts in viral hepatitis prevention and care to help the agency prepare similar guidance for other health settings.
Also in FY 2007, CDC plans to issue a request for proposals to fund viral hepatitis coordinators in all states to improve the delivery of viral hepatitis prevention services in health-care settings and public health programs that serve adults at risk for viral hepatitis. The aim of this effort is to decrease the incidence of new infections of hepatitis A (HAV), HBV and hepatitis C (HCV) (primary prevention) and to decrease risks for chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer, in persons with chronic HBV infection or chronic HCV infection (secondary prevention).
SENATE REPORT NO. 109-287
Hepatitis – The Committee continues to be concerned that more than many of the people infected with hepatitis C are unaware of their condition. The Committee encourages CDC to collaborate with national voluntary health organizations to raise awareness of appropriate screening and medical follow up of target populations. The Committee is also aware of increasing rates of hepatitis A and B infections among select adult populations, as well as the alarming rate of individuals co-infected with both hepatitis C and HIV. The Committee encourages CDC to aid hepatitis screening initiatives in the States; help establish guidelines and recommendations for preemptive programs; consider focusing on education and awareness programs targeted at specific populations where there is a high prevalence of hepatitis B and where therapeutic interventions are increasingly effective; and implement the National Hepatitis C Prevention Strategy to address the emerging threat of hepatitis C. In addition, the Committee strongly urges CDC to collaborate with the Health Resources and Services Administration to implement improved HCV screening programs for HIV-infected individuals served by HRSA programs.
Action taken or to be taken
Awareness of infection status has increased significantly from the 1990s, when only 25% of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected persons had knowledge of their infection. However, approximately half of HCV-positive individuals remain unaware of their infection status and, therefore, of their potential risk for serious liver disease or liver cancer. During FY 2006, CDC funded seven organizations to develop, evaluate, and distribute educational materials on viral hepatitis for health professionals, patients, and the public. These and other informational materials are also available online, and in 2006, approximately 600,000 persons used the Internet to access this information about viral hepatitis.
CDC works with the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, whose member organizations have developed educational materials and campaigns to increase knowledge and awareness of hepatitis. CDC also works with the American Medical Association to develop national standards for the diagnosis and treatment of HCV. To improve collaboration with the Health Resources and Services Administration, the CDC/HRSA Advisory Committee on HIV and STD Prevention and Treatment has offered to advise both agencies regarding collaborative efforts to improve prevention and control of viral hepatitis.
In FY 2006 and FY 2007, CDC issued new recommendations to guide hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination. The implementation of routine childhood and adolescent vaccination, supported by federal programs, has resulted in large reductions in the incidence of acute HBV. However, in the absence of a national vaccination program for adults, vaccination coverage among adults at risk for HBV infection remains low. In FY 2007, CDC encouraged all state and local health agencies to use Section 317 funds to increase their support for adult HBV vaccination. CDC also supports organizations to produce and disseminate culturally appropriate educational materials for a variety of ethnic populations at increased risk for HBV. Reflecting the value of new treatments for infected persons and vaccination of their close contacts, CDC has also issued guidance to help immunization programs identify and manage persons with chronic hepatitis. In FY 2007, CDC will convene a consultation of experts in viral hepatitis prevention and care to help the agency prepare similar guidance for other health settings.
In FY 2007, CDC plans to issue a request for proposals to fund viral hepatitis coordinators to promote implementation of the National HCV Prevention Strategy and the adoption of other activities to improve the delivery of viral hepatitis prevention services in health-care settings and public health programs that serve adults at risk for viral hepatitis. Successful proposals will be funded to decrease the incidence of new infections of HAV, HBV and HCV (primary prevention) and to decrease risks for chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer, among persons with chronic HBV infection or chronic HCV infection (secondary prevention).
Liver Wellness – The Committee continues to be concerned about the prevalence of hepatitis and encourages CDC, particularly the Division of Adolescent and School Health, to work with voluntary health organizations to promote liver wellness with increased attention toward childhood education and prevention.
Action taken or to be taken
CDC’s Coordinated School Health Program, within the Division of Adolescent and School Health, provides a model for organizing health programs within schools to maintain and promote the well-being of young people, including liver wellness. CDC funds education and health agencies to help schools prevent sexual risk behaviors that result in HIV infection, especially among youth who are at highest risk. Since several strains of hepatitis are spread through sexual contact, prevention of sexual risk behaviors supports the goal of decreasing the prevalence of hepatitis.
Viral Hepatitis Grassroots Training and
Hill Education Day –
December 5, 2005
NVHR was one of three sponsors of the first ever Viral Hepatitis Grassroots Training and Hill Education Day on December 5, 2005 in the Hall of the States in Washington, DC.
Press Release: Local effort by high school
students to address HBV -
Bay Area High School Students Make Major Political Impact
Stanford, California - The Jade Ribbon Youth Council are not your average high school students; the 13 members are addressing a major health crisis by establishing the first Hepatitis B Awareness Week in nine cities: Fremont, Milpitas, Palo Alto, San Ramon, Newark, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Saratoga and Los Altos. Hepatitis B is a critical health issue that affects 1 in 10 Asians but has largely gone unnoticed. Realizing this, the JRYC is making a political impact by passing awareness proclamations in cities throughout the Bay Area to recognize the epidemic. Planned activities vary among each city, ranging from library case displays, tree decorations, mayor proclamations, and television and radio interviews. Each high school within the cities will also hold informational lunchtime activities to garner the interest of the youth and general population. The united mission across the Bay Area is to promote knowledge of the high prevalence and preventability of hepatitis B and the fight to eradicate the virus especially in Asian American communities.
“Bravo! I am very impressed and commend our Asian American youth in breaking the common belief that success only comes by having your head buried in books,” states Dr. Samuel So, Director of the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University, “To be so proactive in maximizing outreach conveys a very important message for the public. It illustrates the potential a small group of people can have in pursuing any health cause… the public should come forward to support their efforts and applaud them for their action.”
Worldwide, as many as 400 million people are infected with HBV, a disease that is 10 times more prevalent than HIV/AIDS. Every 30 seconds, a person dies from HBV. Yet we have the power to prevent this disease. A completely safe and effective vaccine has been available for over 20 years. It is so effective in preventing liver cancer that the WHO and the CDC call it the first “anti-cancer vaccine.” Despite the availability of an “anti-cancer vaccine,” hepatitis B and liver cancer remain as the greatest health disparity in the United States. Hepatitis B Awareness Week is dedicated to educating the public, especially youths, about these staggering statistics and what can be done to prevent the spread of this epidemic. Considering that 30% of the Bay Area population is Asian, it is high time for the Bay Area to address this health issue.
The current Jade Ribbon Youth Council members are Charles Chen, Mindy Chu, and Alina Wong from Monta Vista High; Catherine Chiu and Daniel Kim from Harker High; Cindy Guan and Brandon P. Shih from Mission San Jose; Yuxin Liu, Lucy X. Yang and Lynn Xia from California High; Charles Liu from Homestead High; Michelle B. Kim from Foothill High and Dylan Y. Kim from Henry M. Gunn High School.
To conclude Hepatitis B Awareness Week, the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University, American Cancer Society-Northern California Chinese Unite will offer a free HBV and Liver Cancer education screening event in Fremont on Saturday March 24th. All members of the public are invited to come in for a free HBV prevention education presentation and a blood test for hepatitis B. The HBsAg test is the only method to detect chronic HBV infection and is recommended for all foreign-born persons by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The event is being held at Warm Springs Community Center from 1:30-4pm. Pre-registration is available through American Cancer Society, Northern California Chinese Unite at 1-888-566-6222. For more information about HBV visit http://liver.stanford.edu.
 |
"Now, I don't want to be silent," says
Arline Loh about having hepatitis B. |
Health and Behavior
USA Today
Posted 1/22/2006 9:35 PM
Updated
1/22/2006 9:48 PM
Hepatitis, 'the silent killer,' driven out of the shadows
By Anita Manning, USA TODAY
There was a time when Arline Loh of Wilmington, Del., didn't tell people
she has hepatitis B.
"It carries such a stigma," says Loh, 57, an information technology
expert who retired three months ago because of liver damage caused by
the disease. "Hepatitis B is classified as an STD (sexually transmitted
disease)."
House Hearing on Hepatitis C 12/14/2004 108th Congress
ON CAPITOL HILL
Hearing
on Hepatitis C
The House Government Reform Committee held a hearing titled "Stalking a
Furtive Killer: A Review of the Federal Government's Efforts to Combat Hepatitis
C." This hearing is chaired by Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA).
Media Alert for the NVHR Plan
Help us get out the word!
Press Release for the NVHR Plan to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis May 10, 2006
The NVHR Board would like to help you send the Press Release, while simultaneously sharing information about your organization. Download this Prepared Press Release Template and simply add your organization's content.
Press Release for the NVHR Plan to Eliminate Viral Hepatitis May 5, 2006
Please get the message out and let us know how else we might help.
