| Contact: Ari Maravel, Melissa Ziriakus American Liver Foundation 201-256-2550 x 228 |
Hepatitis C Initiative to be Expanded:
CEDAR GROVE, NJ, August 5, 1996- According to a report issued this afternoon by a Congressional committee, an estimated 300,000 Americans are infected with the deadly hepatitis C virus due to exposure from blood transfusions before 1990. Because a large number of these people are unaware of their condition, they need to be advised of their risk so that they can be tested and told of treatment and lifestyle options. Today, the American Liver Foundation (ALF) responded to the report's findings and directives by initiating an effort to educate the public about this silent, deadly disease.
"These 300,000 people are at risk and need to be empowered with accurate information so that they can make decisions about their lives, "said Alan P. Brownstein, President of the American Liver Foundation. "Moreover, they're merely the tip of the iceberg of Americans unknowingly infected with hepatitis C. An additional 3.6 million people are infected with the chronic form of the disease, and nearly 40,000 new cases occur each year," he said. Hepatitis C can lead to a high incidence of liver cancer and cirrhosis.
"This study couldn't have come at a better time," said Dr. Bruce R. Bacon, Chairman of the Research and Education Committees of the American Liver Foundation. "There are treatments today that did not exist when these people were exposed to the infection, and which in many cases can be effective."
The study, released by the House of Representatives Government Reform and Oversight Committee, recommended notifying the 300,000 people who received blood and blood products before 1990 that they should be tested for hepatitis C. "ALF will provide information and a list of community physicians to anyone free of charge, and is tooling up to meet what it expects will be an increased demand based on the release of this report," said Mr. Brownstein. The ALF initiative will also include working with public and private sectors to generate an nationwide public information effort.
Persons at risk include health care workers who are exposed to needle sticks, patients on hemodialysis, IV drug users, and the popular practices of body piercing and tattoos. Although rarely, hepatitis C is sometimes transmitted through sexual contact and at times to newborns whose mothers are infected. However, at least 40 percent of the hepatitis C cases identified do not reflect any of these known risk behaviors. "This large proportion of untraceable infection points out the need for broad-based awareness and testing," said Mr. Brownstein. "It also points out that funding for research for hepatitis C is woefully inadequate."
Much can be done to prevent the disease, he said, by increasing research for treatment and vaccines, and by an accelerated effort to educate the public about the risks.
In addition to the need for notification, the report called higher national standards to protect the nation's blood supply from emerging infectious agents and blood borne pathogens. "While there has been substantial improvement in the safety of our nation's blood supply, this report helps to remind us that it is very important that we do not become complacent. We must be vigilant." said Mr. Brownstein.
The American Liver Foundation is a national, voluntary non-profit health organization dedicated to preventing, treating and curing hepatitis and other liver and gallbladder diseases through research and education. For more information contact the American Liver Foundation at 1-800-GO-LIVER (465-4837) or 1-888-4-HEP-ABC (443-7222).