Media Advisory: "Biggest One-Day Screening For the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) - Part of Effort to Make San Francisco the First HBV-Free City in the U.S."

WHAT:
Largest ever single-day screening for the hepatitis B virus (HBV) at the 4^th Annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration. The San Francisco Hep B Free program (www.sfhepbfree.org) is providing free screenings for HBV as part of the program’s efforts to eradicate this health epidemic that affects 1/3 of San Francisco residents.

WHO:
Local dignitaries will make remarks about topics including the importance of screening, vaccinating and treating for HBV.

Confirmed speakers include:
Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, Supervisor Carmen Chu, Senator Leland Yee, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, Assemblyman Mark Leno, District Attorney Kamala Harris and Assessor Phil Ting.

Medical doctors and public health experts will also be available for interviews.

WHEN:
Sat., May 17, 2008, 2:00 p.m.
*Speakers begin at 2:00 p.m. The HBV screening will run from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

WHERE:
San Francisco’s Japantown
Post Street between Laguna Street and Fillmore Street

VISUALS:
Phlebotomists screening Bay Area residents for the HBV virus100,000 attendees, making it one of the biggest celebrations of Asian Pacific American heritage in the U.S., including performing artists and vendors displaying Asian culture and craft

CONTACT:
Christina KreitzerAllison & Partners
Christina@allisonpr.com
Office: (415) 277-4924

ATTENTION EDITORS:
Contact Christina for interviews with medical experts and for personal testimonials from patients who have HBV.

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. One in 10 APIs has an undiagnosed infection. 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.