|
World Hepatitis Day
– July 28th, 2018
July 28th,
2018 is World Hepatitis Day with the theme "Find the Missing Millions”. The
World Hepatitis Alliance estimates that there are 300 million people who are
unaware that they are infected with Hepatitis B or C. Because of these numbers,
Hepatitis has been called "one of the biggest global health threats of our
time”. 1.34 million deaths worldwide are attributed to viral Hepatitis – as
many as HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Hepatitis B and C are also said to
cause eighty percent of liver cancers world-wide.
World
Hepatitis Day was developed to raise global awareness of the disease, the
importance of testing, and the good news that cures for Hepatitis C and
vaccines for Hepatitis B exist. However diagnosis is still a problem, and
without diagnosis, treatment is delayed or never started. If an individual does
not know their hepatitis status there is the real possibility that a person
could develop liver cancer or transmit the infection to others. Unlike
Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and C are transmitted through sexual contact, health
care needle stick injuries, the sharing of needles and equipment by IV drug
users, and from mother to baby during pregnancy.
Hepatitis is
one of just four disease-specific global awareness days officially endorsed by
the World Health Organization (WHO) to unite patient organizations, medical
professionals, governments, industry leaders, and the general public in
education efforts. The goal is to raise the global profile of viral Hepatitis.
Every year on July 28th agencies ramp up vaccination efforts for
Hepatitis B and encourage everyone to have a test for Hepatitis C, particularly
if they have never had one. Hepatitis C is curable, but must be diagnosed first
to find the treatment that is right for an individual.
Individuals
born between the early to mid 1940’s through the early to mid 1960’s (the Baby
Boomers) are highly encouraged to be tested at least once because of lax
screening of blood products used during surgeries and other treatments.
Use this
year’s World Hepatitis Day to think about your Hepatitis B vaccination status,
and find out if you have ever had a test for Hepatitis C. Be proactive for your health, promote the
need for testing and vaccination and help "Find the Missing Millions”
Please
contact us at Clark County Health Department for questions regarding Hepatitis
vaccinations or testing. 859-744-4482.
Article
submitted by: Jennifer Burchett, RN,
BSN, CLS
Information
taken from: www.cdc.gov/hepatitis and www.worldhepatitisalliance.org
|
