House Hearing on Hep C
HIV Tampa Bay Owner/Webmaster (StPeteSean)
Washington, DC - The AIDS Institute (TAI) applauds the House
Government Reform Committee for addressing the United State's growing
hepatitis C crisis at a hearing being conducted on Tuesday, December
14th, at 2:00 p.m. The hearing will take place in Room 2154 of the
House Rayburn Office Building, Washington, DC.
"We congratulate Chairman Tom Davis (R-VA) on his efforts to bring
the federal government's response to the hepatitis C epidemic to the
attention of the Congress and our nation at large," notes Dr. Gene
Copello, executive director of The AIDS Institute. "With between 4
and 5 million Americans infected with hepatitis C, and an additional
25,000 new infections annually, this is a public health crisis that
needs to be addressed at all levels of government." Copello adds,
"Additionally, one-third of all Americans living with HIV/AIDS are
co-infected with hepatitis C, which further complicates their health
and treatment."
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. Within the
United States, three of the five different forms, each caused by a
distinct virus, are common: hepatitis A, B and C. Vaccines are
available for both A and B, but no vaccine is currently available for
hepatitis C.
In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC):
· Of the 4 to 5 million Americans infected with hepatitis C
(HCV), 2.7 million are chronically infected
· Chronic HCV accounts for 40 to 60% of liver disease and is
the leading cause of liver transplants in the US
· HCV results in approximately 10,000 deaths each year - a
number which could double by the year 2020
· 80% of those infected with HCV do not experience any
symptoms and many people are unaware of their infection until chronic
liver disease develops 10-20 years after infection
· Roughly 1/3rd of the nearly one million Americans living
with HIV/AIDS are co-infected with HCV
· HCV-liver disease related complications are quickly becoming
a leading cause of death for people with HIV/AIDS
Tuesday's witness panels are slated to include representatives from
the government and medical communities, as well as hepatitis C
advocates.
"This hearing will provide an excellent forum to examine what our
government has been doing and what still needs to be done to prevent
the spread of hepatitis C, treat those who are already infected and to
eventually discover a vaccine," notes TAI Director of Federal Affairs
Carl Schmid. "Unfortunately, to date, our government's response has
been inadequate. Thus, we join other healthcare advocates in asking
President Bush and the Congress to take a leadership role in fighting
hepatitis C by requesting increased funding and resources for hepatitis
C prevention, surveillance, treatment and research." He concludes,
"Considering the future potential costs of treating those who are
ill, it is cost-effective to address the issue now."
For more information on The AIDS Institute and to become involved in
AIDS advocacy work, please contact TAI at: (813) 974-2598, or by email
at: In...@theaidsinstitute.org