September 17, 2008
WHAT:
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control is releasing new recommendations for health care providers designed to increase routine testing in the United States for chronic hepatitis B, a major cause of liver disease and liver cancer. Details of SF Hep B Free's expanded public outreach campaign, launched to coincide with national hepatitis treatment recommendations that will be announced on September 18 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Representatives from SF Hep B Free and the CDC will address how the new guidelines will impact residents and healthcare providers in San Francisco, the U.S. city with the highest rate of liver cancer, a disease caused by the hepatitis B virus.
WHO:
Confirmed speakers:
Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D- San Francisco), a hep B carrier
Dr. Mitch Katz, Director, San Francisco Department of Public Health
Ted Fang, AsianWeek editor, SF Hep B Free Campaign member
Dr. John Ward, Director of Viral Hepatology, CDC, will address the implication of the new recommendations on San Francisco's Asian American Pacific Islanders, of which 1 in 10 has an undiagnosed case of hepatitis B.
Invited speakers:
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom
Aaron Peskin, San Francisco Board of Supervisors president
WHEN:
Thursday, September 18, 2008, 1:00 p.m. (PST)
WHERE:
Chinatown Public Health Center 2nd floor 1490 Mason St. at the top of Broadway St.
CONTACT: Christina Kreitzer
christina@allisonpr.com
office: (415) 277-4924, mobile: (415) 235-9158
ABOUT HBV: Asian and Pacific Islanders (APIs) are disproportionately impacted by Hepatitis B. It is a disease of the liver caused by HBV, a virus often called a "silent killer" because it can cause liver cancer, cirrhosis or liver failure without producing symptoms. San Francisco has the highest liver cancer rate in the nation and 80% of liver cancer in APIs is caused by HBV. But it's preventable with a simple vaccine.
ABOUT SF Hep B Free: SF Hep B Free is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between city government, private healthcare and community organizations. The goal of the citywide campaign is to eradicate hepatitis B in San Francisco by screening, testing and vaccinating all API residents.
