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• Vlog: Lunch & Learn Session with Jefferson APAMSA

  Join Michaela Jackson for A Day in the Life of a Public Health Coordinator as she takes you behind the scenes of Hep B United Philadelphia. In this episode, the Hepatitis B Foundation joins Hep B United Philadelphia in the City for a Lunch & Learn session with Jefferson University APAMSA students.

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/vlog-lunch-learn-session-jefferson-apamsa/
• Mosquito Repellent and Hepatitis B

  Summer has arrived and so have your annoying neighborhood mosquitoes, who show up uninvited to every party.  Everyone's first impulse is to spray on the DEET, an effective, insect repellent, to keep them away. If you have hepatitis B, and are working hard to "love your liver", you might be wondering what affect DEET will have on your liver.   Your liver is an amazing organ responsible for filtering just about everything we inhale, ingest or absorb through the skin.  DEET is an effective, but strong chemical, that when applied to the skin, or accidentally inhaled while spraying, or ingested due to poor hand washing, may be found in the blood stream up to 12 hours later.  It's your liver's job to ensure this toxin is filtered from your system.   An over-taxed liver can be problematic for anyone, but placing additional burdens on your liver when you have HBV can contribute to liver damage over time. Here are a couple of things to consider.  Mosquitoes and other flying, or biting insects are vectors for numerous diseases that can make us very sick.   (Please keep in mind that mosquitoes are NOT vectors for hepatitis B.)  As a result we have to consider other options, or weigh the risks vs. the benefits of spraying on a dose of DEET.  If you do decide that DEET is the best protection against mosquitoes, consider limiting your exposure by applying it to your clothing, rather than directly to the skin.  When you're back inside and out of mosquito territory, wash it off.  Don't wear it to bed. A natural alternative to chemically produced repellents is citronella, which has been registered for use in the U.S. since 1948.  It is made by steam distillation of certain grasses, and is considered a biopesticide, a naturally occurring substance that controls by non-toxic means. Citronella can be purchased in various outdoor candles and natural, registered products such as Burt's Bee's Herbal Insect Repellent, or Avon Skin So Soft.  Citronella and other remedies can

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/mosquitos-repellents-and-hepatitis-b/
• Hepatitis B and Your Neighborhood Pool

  Photo by Sheila http://ht.ly/6eRlt Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of the summer, and with it, the opening of the community pool.  Every summer, questions regarding hepatitis B and the public pool are asked.  Typically it is those that are infected, or have children that are infected with HBV, that have concerns.  Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV.  Does that mean you should be worried about contracting or spreading a blood borne pathogen like hepatitis B at the community pool?  Personally I don't believe so, but there are a couple of things to consider. If you're concerned about a blood spill in the pool water than do not worry.  As long as you are frequenting a well-maintained pool that follows guidelines for consistently monitoring chlorine and pH levels in the pool, you'll be fine. Use common sense when at the pool.  Check that the water is clear, and the sides aren't slimy. If the odor of your pool is too strong, something may be off.  Speak with management if you have concerns.  Pool staff are responsible for keeping water safe.  There are strict guidelines that must be followed.  Still have doubts?  Purchase your own pool test strips to confirm disinfecting quality of the pool. Blood spills on the deck are a plausible transmission route for blood borne pathogens like HBV, but this hazard can be readily averted with proper cleanup.  Chlorine is a very effective agent against hepatitis B and other pathogens.  When made fresh and used in the correct concentrations, (nine parts water to one part chlorine) it kills pathogens like HBV.  As a team manager of a neighborhood swim team, I found the lifeguard slow to clean up a blood spill on deck.  The protocols are in place, but everyone needs to be vigilant to ensure they are followed.  If you have HBV and are bleeding on deck, don't be afraid to insist that the blood spill be properly disinfected.  There's no need to disclose your status.  These are standard precautions

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/hepatitis-b-and-your-neighborhood-pool/
• Hepatitis Awareness Quiz

  We are more than half way through Hepatitis Awareness month. If you have viral hepatitis, you'll likely breeze through this short, quiz... How about your significant other, family members, and friends? This is a great opportunity to help raise awareness and educate others. Be sure to let us know how you did!

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/hepatitis-awareness-quiz/
• Hepatitis Health Action Alert: The Hepatitis Community Responds to Health Care Reform

  ACTION ALERT! Prevention funding in Health Care Reform is under attack. Tell your representative to vote NO on H.R. 1217 On April 5th, the assault on the Affordable Care Act continued when the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted along partisan lines in favor of H.R. 1217, which would repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund. This fund, part of the health care reform law, provides money each year for vital prevention and public health services. The fund will grow each year until it eventually provides $2 billion/year. This fund offers a great opportunity to get some of the money targeted to viral hepatitis prevention, screening, and testing programs. We cannot advocate for that money if the entire fund is repealed. We also must protect this fund as part of defeating the ongoing strategy by those who oppose the Affordable Care Act to attack the law by repealing and de-funding its important pieces. The full House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 1217 as early as this week. Please take a few minutes to call your Representative and tell him/her to vote NO. Here's what YOU can DO: Please call your U.S. House Representative immediately. We are hearing directly from Congressional staff that phone calls are the most effective form of communication. Call the Capitol Switchboard toll-free at 1-888-876-6242 and ask to be connected to your Representative. When you reach your Representative’s office, tell whoever answers the phone that you are a constituent, and that you would like to speak to the staff person who handles health care issues. Whether you speak to the staff person live or leave a voice mail, tell him/her: “My name is _______________ and I live in (city/state). I am calling to urge Representative ____________ to vote no on H.R. 1217. This bill would repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which is an important part of the Affordable Care Act. This Fund is a great opportunity to provide badly needed funding for viral hepatitis

  http://www.hepb.org/blog/119-2/