Viral Hepatitis & CalHEP News
| August 2010 - World Hepatitis Alliance Seeking New Members At the 63rd Assembly held earlier this year, World Health Organization (WHO) member states adopted a resolution calling for the World Health Organization to develop a comprehensive approach to the prevention and control of hepatitis, based on an earlier report. Among other recommendations, the members designated July 28th as World Hepatitis Day in order to provide an opportunity for education and greater understanding of viral hepatitis as a global public health problem, and to stimulate the strengthening of preventive and control measures of this disease in Member States. Through September 1st, the World Hepatitis Alliance is accepting applications from potential members. July 2010 - CalHEP Attends Genentech Meeting on HCV Treatment Medications On July 12, 2010, CalHEP joined Genentech and advocates from around the country to talk about Genentech's new HCV drugs that are in the FDA pipeline; access and patient support services; and development strategies for addressing HCV/HIV co-infection. Read more for an update on financial support for Pegasys. July 2010 - Lawmakers debate whether to extend, expand, end syringe sales Oakland Tribune: California lawmakers are mulling whether to extend or expand a state program allowing over-the-counter sales of syringes without a prescription to curb the spread of HIV, hepatitis and other diseases. Without action, such sales will become illegal at this year's end -- and public health authorities suggest that could be a deadly tragedy. The current law, signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2004, lets counties choose whether to let pharmacists sell up to 10 syringes to someone without a prescription; it also makes an exception to drug-paraphernalia laws to allow possession of up to 10 syringes if acquired through an authorized source. Every greater Bay Area county except Napa chose to take part in this Disease Prevention Demonstration Project. Contra Costa was first in December 2004, and Santa Clara was last in January 2006. Read the entire article which features CalHEP's policy consultant, Glenn Backes. The story was also covered on KPBS. July 2010 - Hope Against Hepatitis C New York Times: New medicines are being developed that are expected to transform the care of patients with hepatitis C, making treatment far more effective and far less grueling. The new drugs, which could start reaching the market as early as next year, could help subdue a virus that infects roughly four million Americans, most of them baby boomers, and 170 million people worldwide. Read the entire article, which features CalHEP Steering Committee member, Diana Sylvestre. The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable released a statement in response to the article.July 2010 - A Secret Killer: Hep B in Fresno's Hmong Community Capital Public Radio: A new study shows that 17% of Fresno's Hmong community has Hepatitis B...and most have no idea they are carrying the potentially fatal disease. This story highlights champion kickboxer, Yia Mua, who was diagnosed with liver cancer spurred by Hepatitis B and died six months later. Like one in six in the Fresno Hmong community, Mua contracted the disease, and didn’t even know it.Listen to the story. June 2010 - Obama Administration Unveils Government Health-care Website Washington Post: A Web site that the Obama administration unveiled Wednesday aims to give everyone the full range of public and private health insurance plans available to them based on their individual circumstances. Users of the site-- healthcare.gov -- will not need to divulge personal information such as their name, address or income. Instead, the site asks a series of questions including age, Zip code, job status and degree of difficulty affording health insurance, then uses a person's answers to produce a detailed list of potential coverage options from among 5,500 private plans as well as the full array of federal and state programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Read the entire article. June 2010 - Hepatitis B a Silent Epidemic Among Hmong Fresno Bee: A study conducted by Dr. Muhammad Y. Sheikh, an associate professor of clinical medicine at the UCSF-Fresno Medical Education Program, found that almost 17% of Hmong in Fresno County have the hepatitis B virus. Infection can damage the liver and lead to cirrhosis. And it's a major cause of liver cancer -- the No. 1 cancer killer of Laotian men in California. Read the entire article . June 2010 - NVHR Releases Video of Washington DC World Hepatitis Day Rally The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable released a video with highlights from their World Hepatitis Day Rally on Capitol Hill. Congratulations on a successful event. June 2010 - Journal Supplement on Social Determinants of Health Public Health Reports has released a special supplement focusing on the Social Determinants of Health in the on-going battle to prevent and control HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis. This supplement covers the constant barriers society faces when fighting and attempting to rectify diseases that have plagued our society for centuries. From economic to cultural to racial obstacles, Public Health Reports examines the “cause and effect” relationships that continue to be the main hindrance to decreasing the spread of these diseases. June 2010 - California's Adult Hepatitis Prevention Project Featured in JAMA The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) featured an article on the results of California's Adult Hepatitis Vaccine Project. In 2006, when the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that hepatitis B vaccination be offered to all adults as part of routine prevention services in settings where a high proportion of those served are at increased risk, CDC launched a national initiative encouraging states to use existing federal funds to purchase adult hepatitis B--containing (HepB) vaccine. In response, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) established the Adult Hepatitis Vaccine Project (AHVP) to expand hepatitis B vaccination in sites serving at-risk adults. This report summarizes results for 2007--2008, which indicated that 28,824 doses of HepB vaccine were administered at 29 participating sites in the first 19 months of AHVP; 13 sites administered HepB vaccine for the first time. Federal provision of vaccine resulted in vaccination of many adults who otherwise might not have been vaccinated against HBV. Increased capacity to vaccinate all adults at risk is needed for the elimination of HBV transmission in the United States. The project was also featured in a recent MMWR issue. June 2010 - Lawmakers Urge Quick Passage of Bill to Boost Detection, Treatment of Hepatitis Healthwatch - Lawmakers on the House Oversight panel on Thursday urged Congress to quickly pass legislation to boost the detection and treatment of viral hepatitis, the leading cause of liver cancer in the United States. The Oversight and Government Reform Committee held the first hearing in several years on the deadly disease, which disproportionately affects blacks and Asians, and pressed for passage of a bipartisan bill that would boost funding by $600 million over the next five years. June 2010 - FDA Approves First HCV Rapid Test for Sale in the U.S. OraSure Technologies, Inc. announced that its OraQuick(R) Hepatitis C ("HCV") Rapid Antibody Test has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for use in detecting HCV antibodies in venous whole blood specimens, making it the first rapid HCV test approved by the FDA for use in the United States. May 2010 - World Health Organization Resolution on Hepatitis At the 63rd Assembly, member states adopted a resolution calling for the World Health Organization to develop a comprehensive approach to the prevention and control of hepatitis, based on an earlier report. The World Hepatitis Alliance worked with well-known musicians from around the world to develop an album of songs which was launched on World Hepatitis Day 2010. It includes collaborations by artists of diverse nationalities to represent and reinforce the importance of global co-operation in tackling hepatitis B and C. This Day: World Hepatitis Day is for sale on Amazon and iTunes. World Hepatitis Alliance members can sell the CDs in their country to raise awareness around World Hepatitis Day. All money they make by selling these CDs can be kept by the organization. May 2010 - FDA Warning Letter Regarding Unjustified Product ClaimsThe FDA posted a warning letter regarding unjustified claims by a natural products supplier that their product can relieve symptoms of hepatitis C. May 2010 - Will California Allow Pharmacists to Save Lives and Money Through Syringes? Senator Leland Y. Yee, Ph.D. (D-San Francisco) and Barry Zevin MD, write about the importance of pharmacy sales of syringes to combat the spread of hepatitis C and HIV. Senate Bill 1029 would expand a pilot program that is scheduled to end this year by allowing any pharmacy in the state to sell up to 30 syringes to individuals if the pharmacist desires. May 2010 - Hepatitis C No Longer "Death Sentence" Helen Carter from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports on the ability of most cases of hepatitis C to be cured. May 2010 - President Obama and Governor Schwarzenegger Release Messages Regarding Hepatitis In recognition of World Hepatitis Day, President Obama offered a message to thank those who are working on hepatitis, encourage us to work together on prevention and treatment and offer support to those who are living with hepatitis. Governor Schwarzenegger also released a message encouraging Californians to become aware of prevention strategies, promoting early detection and thanking those working on this important issue in our state. May 2010 - California's Adult Hepatitis Vaccine Project Featured in MMWR The May 7th issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) features an article on the success of California's Adult Hepatitis Vaccine Project. In 2006, when the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that hepatitis B vaccination be offered to all adults as part of routine prevention services in settings where a high proportion of those served are at increased risk, CDC launched a national initiative encouraging states to use existing federal funds to purchase adult hepatitis B--containing (HepB) vaccine. In response, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) established the Adult Hepatitis Vaccine Project (AHVP) to expand hepatitis B vaccination in sites serving at-risk adults. This report summarizes results for 2007--2008, which indicated that 28,824 doses of HepB vaccine were administered at 29 participating sites in the first 19 months of AHVP; 13 sites administered HepB vaccine for the first time. Federal provision of vaccine resulted in vaccination of many adults who otherwise might not have been vaccinated against HBV. Increased capacity to vaccinate all adults at risk is needed for the elimination of HBV transmission in the United States. Another story in the MMWR focused on the increase in liver cancer rates, primarily hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). May 2010 – Hep B Stops with Me Photo Contest Seeks Entries In celebration of API Heritage Month and World Hepatitis Day HepBMoms is asking moms from around the world to pledge to stop hepatitis B. Moms can pledge to vaccinate their children against hepatitis B, tell a friend, learn more, or blog about hepatitis B and liver cancer. Moms can then upload a photo of themselves with their kids, creating an online photo album and community of women pledging to stop the spread of hepatitis B. Women who enter by May 31, 2010 can win clothing for their children. May 2010 – Health Reform for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders The White House is putting out a number of fact sheets on what health reform means to specific populations. This fact sheet on health reform for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) is relevant for those with hepatitis in the AAPI community. April 2010 - Study Finds Low Hepatitis C Rates in Methadone Maintenance Participants (April 23, 2010, JoinTogether.org) Researchers at an Israeli clinic offering methadone maintenance treatment have found that the treatment for opiate addiction appears to protect individuals against subsequent hepatitis C infection, Medscape Psychiatryreported April 19. In a group of 207 hepatitis C-negative patients treated at their Tel Aviv clinic between 1993 and 2008, only 25 became hepatitis C-positive. This is seen as a critical finding in that hepatitis C rates among injection drug users have been estimated at 60 to 90 percent. "This is a very important study because it shows that not only does treatment work for the addiction itself but is a preventive measure for hepatitis C," commented Gavin Bart, M.D., chair of this year's ASAM meeting and director of the Division of Addiction Medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minnesota. For the rest of the article, click here. April 2010 – April is National Donate Life Month Each day, an estimated 77 people receive life-saving organ transplants, while 19 others die waiting. One donor can save or improve the quality of life for 100 people or more! Many in our own communities are waiting...hoping...praying for a transplant before it’s too late. For information on how to register as an organ donor, talk to your loved ones about your decision and promote organ donation, visit Donate Life America. March 2010 - Vaccination, Prevention is Beating Back Hepatitis: Programs Seem to Be Making Progress Against These Viruses, Research Suggests
March 2010— GSK to Provide Free Vaccines to Low-income US Adults GlaxoSmithKline, the pharmaceutical giant with North American headquarters in Research Triangle Park, on unveiled a new program that will provide free vaccines to low-income U.S. adults who lack insurance coverage. GSK (NYSE: GSK) said it will provide eligible adults with free vaccinations against hepatitis A and B, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Adults with no health coverage and incomes not exceeding 250 percent of the federal poverty level ($27,075 for a single person household or $36,425 for a couple) are eligible for the program. Triangle Business Journal - by Jeff Drew February 2010— Certain Syringes More Likely To Spread Hepatitis C Virus Among Drug Users New Haven, Conn. — A Yale School of Medicine study reveals that the high prevalence of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) among injection drug users may be partly due to the resilience of the virus in certain types of syringes. The study, which could open new avenues in preventing the spread of HCV, will be the focus of a presentation and press conference at the 17th Conference of Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections on Friday, February 19, 2010 at the Moscone Center West in San Francisco. This is believed to be the first study establishing the survival of HCV in contaminated syringes and the duration of potential infectiousness. Published: February 15, 2010 in the Yale University's Office of Public Affairs, of this article click here. February 2010—Clinic Works to Include Ex-Inmates in Health Care’s Embrace February 2010—40 Per Cent Of Cancers Are Preventable: Message For World Cancer Day
July 2010 - CalHEP Attends Genentech Meeting on HCV Treatment Medications |
