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Senate Resolution

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A resolution recognizing May 2008 as "Hepatitis Awareness

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Month."

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     WHEREAS, May is World Hepatitis Awareness Month, with the

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inaugural World Hepatitis Awareness Month held in 2004, and since

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then World Hepatitis Awareness Month has grown to become a truly

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international movement, and

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     WHEREAS, World Hepatitis Awareness Month is an opportunity

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for the global hepatitis community to increase awareness of viral

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hepatitis and alert a worldwide audience to risk factors and

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symptoms of this infection, and

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     WHEREAS, often described as "silent killers," both hepatitis

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B and C can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and, ultimately,

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liver failure and death; however, in many cases, hepatitis can be

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cured or managed using currently available treatments, and

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     WHEREAS, around the world an estimated 350 to 400 million

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people are living with hepatitis B, and more than 180 million

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people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C, and

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     WHEREAS, in the United States, it is estimated that up to 2

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million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B, and an

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estimated 5 million people are infected with hepatitis C, and

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     WHEREAS, an estimated 300,000 Floridians are infected with

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hepatitis C and an estimated 75,000 Floridians are infected with

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hepatitis B, and

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     WHEREAS, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has identified

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African-Americans, Asian-Americans, and Pacific Islanders, as

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well as Native Americans and Alaskan Natives, as having higher

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rates of viral hepatitis, and

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     WHEREAS, the chronic viral hepatitis disease burden in the

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United States is greatly underestimated. Approximately 200,000

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patients are diagnosed with hepatitis B, but the total adjusted

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prevalence of the disease is approximately 2 million people

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affected; approximately 800,000 patients are diagnosed with

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hepatitis C, whereas the total adjusted prevalence is

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approximately 5 million people affected, and

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     WHEREAS, the impact of late diagnosis leads to an increasing

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need for liver transplants and increased prevalence of liver

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cancer, which is the fastest-growing type of cancer in incidence

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in the United States while other types of cancer are declining in

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rate, and

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     WHEREAS, there is a tremendous need for increasing early

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screening, diagnosis, and treatment, and effective interventions,

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such as testing, diagnosis, immunization, and counseling can help

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prevent and control viral hepatitis and protect personal and

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community health, and

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     WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Health has a

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comprehensive, statewide Hepatitis Prevention Program that

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includes raising public awareness of viral hepatitis, providing

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public and professional education, tracking the burden of disease

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and detecting outbreaks, conducting research, and offering free

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testing and vaccination for adults at increased risk for

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infection or for the serious consequences of infection, and

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     WHEREAS, hepatitis A and B are preventable by vaccination,

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and Florida's Hepatitis Prevention Program provided over 37,000

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hepatitis A and B vaccines to at-risk adults in 2007 through

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county health departments, and

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     WHEREAS, Florida's Hepatitis Prevention Program tested more

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than 24,000 at-risk adults for viral hepatitis using the state

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laboratory services and, for 1,500 at-risk adults, using home

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test kits in 2007, and

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     WHEREAS, patient groups and governments around the world

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have recognized the need for greater awareness of viral hepatitis

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and are working together on events during World Hepatitis

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Awareness Month in order to drive awareness and galvanize action

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by people who may be at risk, NOW, THEREFORE,

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Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

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     That the Florida Senate supports the goals and ideals of

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World Hepatitis Awareness Month; calls upon the people of Florida

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to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities;

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and supports all efforts to raise awareness of the consequences

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of untreated viral hepatitis as a serious public health issue.