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  • Hepatitis B and Delta Coinfection: A Public Health Crisis in Mongolia

    … service for many who may not be able to access or afford these services otherwise. Since 2011, the project, along with FIRE’s Love the Liver program have tested nearly 9,000 people for hepatitis B, screened 6,000 for liver cancer and performed over 3,000 specialist exams, and, in a country of only 3 million people, has made a meaningful impact. The effort is also unofficially supported by Mongolia’s Ministry of Health, who is continually investing in efforts to curb the burden of hepatitis. References: 1. “Viral Hepatitis in Mongolia: Situation and Response.” World Health Organization, 2015, iris.wpro.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665.1/13069/9789290617396_eng.pdf. 2. “Hepatitis: A Crisis in Mongolia.” World Health Organization, 2017, www.who.int/westernpacific/news/feature-stories/detail/hepatitis-a-crisis-in-mongolia. 3. Rizzetto, Mario. (2016). The adventure of delta. Liver International. 36. 135-140. 10.1111/liv.13018. 4. Abbas, Z., Abbas, M., Abbas, S., & Shazi, L. (2015). Hepatitis D and hepatocellular carcinoma. World journal of hepatology, 7(5), 777–786. 5. Baatarkhuu, Oidov & Uugantsetseg, G & Munkh-Orshikh, D & Naranzul, N & Badamjav, S & Tserendagva, Dalkh & Amarsanaa, J & Young, Kim. (2017). Viral Hepatitis and Liver Diseases in Mongolia. Euroasian Journal of Hepato-Gastroenterology. 7. 68-72. 10.5005/jp-journals-10018-1215. 6. Davaalkham, Dambadarjaa & Ojima, Toshiyuki & Uehara, Ritei & Watanabe, Makoto & Oki, Izumi & Wiersma, Steven & Nymadawa, Pagbajab & Nakamura, Yosikazu. (2007). Impact of the Universal Hepatitis B Immunization Program in Mongolia: Achievements and Challenges. Journal of epidemiology / Japan Epidemiological Association. 17. 69-75. 10.2188/jea.17.69. 7. Alcorn, Ted. (2011). Mongolia's struggle with liver cancer. Lancet. 377. 1139-40. 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60448-0. 8. “Country Programme on Viral Hepatitis Prevention and Control.” World Health Organization,

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/hepatitis-b-d-coinfection-public-health-crisis-mongolia/
  • Eliminating Hepatitis B: Highlights of the Hep B United Summit 2019

    Last week, the Hepatitis B Foundation, Hep B United, and the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) hosted over 100 hepatitis B experts, advocates, and public health professionals in Washington D.C. to collaborate and share best practices on how to advance the elimination of hepatitis B. This year’s theme was Eliminating Hepatitis B: Local Change, Global Impact. The 7th annual Summit began with a day of advocacy on Capitol Hill, where attendees met with their states’ congressional members to make a case for legislative prioritization of the epidemic and increased funding for hepatitis B and liver cancer research. Following Advocacy Day were two days of educational sessions, networking, and coalition building activities that aimed to strengthen and expand our ability to address hepatitis B on a national level.  The Summit was live-streamed on Hep B United’s Facebook; all of the sessions can be viewed here! Below are a few highlights of the Summit. Be sure to look out for the annual Summit Report in the upcoming weeks for a more comprehensive overview of the events!  Highlights:  We spoke to nearly  60 congressional offices. Some of our advocates got to personally speak with Representative Grace Meng, Representative Judy Chu, Senator Tammy Duckworth, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Representative Ilhan Omar! Dr. Tim Block, co-founder, and President of the Hepatitis B Foundation, provided an update on the path to a hepatitis B cure and the stages of therapeutic drug development research.  Right before the Summit, it was announced that 6 of our partners received grants from the HHS Office of Minority Health to conduct hepatitis B screening, education, linkage to care!  Representatives Judy Chu and Grace Meng stopped by our Congressional Reception to share some inspiring words! The new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Viral Hepatitis, Dr. Caroyln Wester, MD, MPH, stopped by

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/eliminating-hepatitis-b-highlights-hep-b-united-summit-2019/
  • 2017 A Year in Review

    … your friends to follow us and like the page!   The Hepatitis Delta Connect program had a breakout year since its 2016 launch with over 11,000 website views from over 4,000 patients and providers in 92 countries! Hepatitis Delta Connect reaches 4,650 people on social media through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Not bad for the first-of-its kind outreach and awareness program!  With Hep B United, our national coalition, we distributed 6 mini-grants this year and held 12 hep B virtual training seminars reaching 2,000 live attendees and nearly 6,000 online viewers! We also had a record number of attendees at our annual Hep B United Summit during World Hepatitis Day in Washington D.C.! Together, our partners screened 4,649 people, educated 11,884 people, gave out 13,112 hepatitis B handouts, and were featured in 2 newspapers, 1 TV appearance (496,189 views), and 1 social media video. Hep B United has a social media reach that includes over 1,500 people across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.   Our newest program, the #justB storytelling campaign, has been very successful so far. We now have 15 storytellers, ranging in age from 21 to 75, representing 10 U.S. states, and sharing a diversity of stories around HBV and liver cancer, transplantation, treatment, stigma and disclosure. The #justB digital stories were released on May 1, 2017, in recognition of Hepatitis Awareness Month, on HBF’s YouTube Channel and at www.hepb.org/justb. Since the launch, there have been over 60,000 views of the 18 multi-lingual videos! We want to thank our partners for helping promote these videos, including CDC Division of Viral Hepatitis Shot By Shot in California. And We are very proud that a few of the videos were selected for screening at the American Public Health Association Annual Film Festival and the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival.  Our storytellers have been very busy this year! They have conducted local hepatitis B education in their home towns, and have given

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/6208-2/
  • Be Brave: Join a Hepatitis B Clinical Trial and Help Find a Cure

    … and any other lab results can be performed locally and sent to the researchers. Step 4: Do your research before you participate. Ask questions and make sure you understand how the trial will affect your health. If there's a chance you'll get the placebo pill, ask what will happen and if you get access to the drug later on. Make sure you get the information in your primary language and that trial doctors are culturally-sensitive. Trust and knowledge is essential. Below are some resources to help you. If you need more information, contact the foundation at 215-489-4900 (U.S.) or email info@hepb.org. Where to find a clinical trial Hepatitis B Foundation’s directory  of hepatitis B-related clinical trials: This resource lists hepatitis B-related clinical trials registered with the U.S. National Institutes of Health. These include hepatitis B-related treatment and liver cancer trials for adults and children in the U.S. and around the world. They also include coinfections, hepatitis D and trials investigating ways to prevent mother-to-children transmission of hepatitis B during childbirth. You can also email the foundation for more information at info@hepb.org. The U.S. National Institutes of Health directory of clinical trials. This is a searchable directory of all NIH-approved clinical trials. You can search by condition and location. Center for Information & Study on Clinical Research Participation: This offers a clinical trial database you can search, and the organization will also help you find clinical trials and email or mail you the information.  Call 877-MED HERO. Allow one to two weeks for response. To watch a webinar about how to participate in a clinical trial, click here.

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/brave-join-hepatitis-b-clinical-trial-help-find-cure-httpwww-hepb-orgblogp5479/
  • In America, It Takes a Coalition to Combat Hepatitis B

    Hep B United Summit members meet with California lawmakers in Washington DC. By Christine Kukka In late July, during World Hepatitis Day 2016, the fourth annual Hep B United Summit convened in Washington D.C. and dozens of advocates met with federal officials and brainstormed strategies to increase screening, immunization and linking people to care to eliminate hepatitis B across the country. The Hepatitis B Foundation and the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organization (AAPCHO) established Hep B United in 2011 to address the silent epidemic of hepatitis B. The liver disease infects 2 million people in the U.S., and 67 percent don’t know they’re infected. Asian-American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and African immigrant Members of the Hep B United 2016 Summit in Washington DC. communities are among those hardest hit. Crafting a culturally- and liguistically-adept approach on small or non-existent budgets to educate and screen these diverse populations remains a challenge for Hep B United’s  more than 30 community coalitions in 15 states and Washington D.C. On the upside, the coalition's organizations have educated 4 million Americans and screened about 40,000. However, large swaths of the country lack outreach efforts to prevent the spread of hepatitis B. For a map and list of Hep B United Summit member organizations, click here. The coalition’s ongoing hepatitis B prevention efforts mirror HIV and hepatitis C campaigns that have sought to increase education, screening, and linkage to care. But in many respects, Hep B advocates face more challenges: Because there is a safe and effective vaccine that prevents hepatitis B, many state and federal health officials assume the infection will go away on its own and government resources for screening and prevention have been minimal. Many immigrant populations affected by hepatitis B have unique languages and cultures, which requires careful, individual approaches to each community. Federal

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/america-takes-coalition-eradicate-hepatitis-b/
  • Hepatitis B Foundation launches B the Voice Story Bank

    Doylestown, Pa., Aug. 18, 2020 – The Hepatitis B Foundation today is launching its new B the Voice Story Bank, an initiative to gather the stories of people around the world affected by hepatitis B. Documenting and sharing the impact that hepatitis B has on individuals, families and communities is essential, the Foundation believes, for continuing the momentum to find a cure for hepatitis B and to achieve the goal of global elimination by 2030. “Centering the voices of people living with hepatitis B is critical in raising awareness, combating stigma and discrimination, and encouraging more people to speak out or take action in other ways,” Rhea Racho, MPAff, the Hepatitis B Foundation’s public policy and program manager said. “That’s true whether it means getting tested for hepatitis B, talking to a doctor, educating family or community members about prevention or advocating for resources and policies to support countrywide hepatitis B elimination.” The B the Voice Story Bank builds upon the success of the Foundation’s national #justB campaign, which it launched in partnership with Story Center and the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) in May 2017.  "The #justB campaign has been a great success, based on the participation and feedback  we've gotten from the hepatitis B community, so we're thrilled to expand this effort," Chari Cohen, DrPH, MPH, senior vice president of the Hepatitis B Foundation, said. "This new component provides many more people with the chance to tell their stories about living with hepatitis B with others around the world, and the Foundation and our partners will continue sharing this compelling content through our social media and other means." The stories shared through the #justB campaign have been very valuable, Dr. Cohen says, to support advocacy and outreach efforts. The Hepatitis B Foundation’s partners, including national organizations, community-based organizations, local health departments, government and industry have made use of the stories. The #justB campaign's archive of first-person video segments is hosted here on the Hepatitis B Foundation's website. Almost 300 million people worldwide live with chronic hepatitis B, but most of their stories remain untold. Often this is due to the negative stigma surrounding the virus, fear of discrimination, lack of community awareness or understanding of the disease and lack of support for those who wish to speak out publicly about hepatitis B.  The new B the Voice Story Bank provides an online platform for people living with hepatitis B, their families, community health workers and health care providers to share their firsthand knowledge and experiences with a global audience. They can submit their stories using an online form, along with any photos and personal details they wish to share. Submissions are confidential and can be made without disclosing a person’s full identity.  Individuals are encouraged to share stories about their diagnosis, living with hepatitis B, access to care and treatment, stigma and discrimination, education and advocacy, support and caregiving, services and programs and other related topics. About the Hepatitis B Foundation: The nation’s leading nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy, the Hepatitis B Foundation is based in Doylestown, Pa. To learn more, go to www.hepb.org, read our blog at hepb.org/blog, follow us on Twitter @HepBFoundation, find us on Facebook at facebook.com/hepbfoundation or call 215-489-4900. To donate, contact Jean Holmes at 215-489-4900 or jean.holmes@hepb.org.

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/hepatitis-b-foundation-launches-b-the-voice-story-bank/
  • HBV Vaccinations Save Lives, Reduce New Infections: National Adult Hepatitis B Vaccination Awareness Day

    Doylestown, Pa., April 30, 2020 – Only one quarter of all adults in the United States ages 19 and older are fully vaccinated against hepatitis B, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine for more than 30 years. Today, on National Adult Hepatitis B Vaccination Awareness Day, the Hepatitis B Foundation is calling for an increased commitment to improving adult hepatitis B vaccination coverage in the United States to reduce the number of new hepatitis B infections and hepatitis B-related deaths. National Adult Hepatitis B Vaccination Awareness Day was proposed last year on April 30 by companion resolutions H.Res. 331 and S.Res. 177. The resolutions were introduced by Rep. Hank Johnson of Georgia and Rep. Grace Meng of New York, co-chairs of the Congressional Hepatitis Caucus, and Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Sen. Angus King of Maine. Along with supporting the designation of April 30 as Awareness Day, the resolutions recognize the importance of hepatitis B testing, vaccination and linkage to care; encourage a commitment to increasing adult HBV vaccination rates and maintaining childhood HBV vaccination rates; and promote greater awareness among providers and the general public.  As the nation is seeing increases in new hepatitis B cases tied injection drug use and the opioid crisis, understanding and addressing barriers to hepatitis B vaccination among adults has become increasingly important. Immunization rates also are low among other populations at high risk of hepatitis B, including people living with hepatitis C, HIV, kidney disease or diabetes. Just 12% of adults with diabetes ages 60 and older and only 26% of adults with diabetes ages 19 to 59 have received the complete vaccine series. Even among health care personnel, only 60% have completed the vaccine series, leaving many frontline workers susceptible to hepatitis B infection. “With hepatitis B being the number one cause of liver cancer globally, and one in four individuals with undiagnosed and unmanaged hepatitis B dying from liver cancer, cirrhosis or liver failure, we must do more to increase hepatitis B awareness and vaccination,” said Chari Cohen, DrPH, MPH, Senior Vice President of the Hepatitis B Foundation. “While there is no cure yet for hepatitis B, we have the opportunity to prevent this life-threatening disease and liver cancer deaths through vaccination.” The modern hepatitis B vaccine, which was introduced in 1985, is widely used and among the safest and most effective vaccines in the world, but it requires three doses. A new two-dose vaccine was introduced recently and is highly effective in populations that may be harder to vaccinate, such as older adults and people living with diabetes. You can read more in a new blog post from the Hepatitis B Foundation. Next week, the Foundation will be launching a new hepatitis B prevention policy program, based in Washington, D.C. The goals are to expand the Hepatitis B Foundation’s policy and advocacy initiatives and increase engagement with Congressional, federal and state health agency partners to improve hepatitis B prevention and vaccination infrastructure and strategies.

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/hbv-vaccinations-save-lives-reduce-new-infections-national-adult-hepatitis-b-vaccination-awareness-day/
  • Hepatitis B Foundation Calls for Increased Resources for Hepatitis B Prevention in Response to CDC 2017 Surveillance Data Report

    DOYLESTOWN PA (September 11, 2019): The Hepatitis B Foundation is calling for increased resources to improve hepatitis B vaccination rates and educate high-risk communities, in response to newly-released viral hepatitis surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC released the 2017 surveillance data on September 10, showing an estimated 22,000 new acute hepatitis B cases, an increase over the previous year. Thirty-two states saw increases in reported acute hepatitis B, continuing an upward trend over the past several years, with the highest rates among non-Hispanic White adults age 40-49. These increases are likely driven by the opioid crisis as well as low vaccination rates among adults. CDC also reported that in 2017, there was a slight increase in overall mortality related to hepatitis B. Alarmingly, mortality rates increased for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), who shoulder a disproportionate burden of chronic hepatitis B chronic hepatitis B infection. The 2017 death rate for AAPIs was over 5 times higher compared to other groups. Non-Hispanic Blacks also had increased mortality related to hepatitis B, possibly due to high rates of chronic hepatitis B in African immigrant communities. Currently, only 25% of adults are protected from hepatitis B. Resources are needed to increase adult hepatitis B vaccination in the U.S., to prevent new cases of this serious liver infection. “The newly released data confirm that while we have made strides in preventing hepatitis B, the trend of increasing acute hepatitis B cases in the U.S. continues. It is critical that we address hepatitis B as a serious consequence of the opioid crisis, by increasing activities and resources to improve vaccination, and ensuring that providers and public health professionals working in high-risk communities include hepatitis B education, testing and vaccination as part of their programming,” said Chari Cohen, DrPH, MPH, Senior Vice President at the Hepatitis B Foundation. “As we work towards hepatitis B elimination in the U.S., we must not forget the communities impacted the most by chronic hepatitis B infection,” said Kate Moraras, MPH, Senior Program Director, Hepatitis B Foundation. “It is disheartening to see continued disparities and increased deaths due to hepatitis B among AAPIs and African communities. We must improve hepatitis B testing and care for those chronically infected. Only through diagnosis, management and treatment can we save lives.” About Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is one of the world’s most common infections and the primary cause of liver cancer, which is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the world. Two billion people (1 in 3) have been infected with the hepatitis B virus, more than 292 million are chronically infected, and almost 1 million people die each year from hepatitis B-related liver failure and liver cancer. In the U.S., up to 2.2 million are chronically infected - yet most do not know it. Without early diagnosis and intervention, one in four people living with hepatitis B will die prematurely from liver failure or liver cancer. The hepatitis B virus is transmitted through blood, unprotected sex, unsterile needles, and from an infected mother to her newborn due to blood exchange during delivery. Although hepatitis B is preventable and treatable, there is still no complete cure for this deadly liver infection. About the Hepatitis B Foundation: The Hepatitis B Foundation is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and improving the quality of life for those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. To learn more, visit www.hepb.org, read our blog at hepb.org/blog, follow us on Twitter @HepBFoundation, find us on Facebook at facebook.com/hepbfoundation or call 215-489-4900. # # #  

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/hepatitis-b-foundation-calls-for-increased-resources-for-hepatitis-b-prevention-in-response-to-cdc-2017-surveillance-data-report/
  • Immigration and International Issues

    Some countries restrict residence visas based on blood test results from a medical examination that may include testing for hepatitis B and other health conditions. Hepatitis B discrimination based on a positive surface antigen test (HBsAg) is unfair and unnecessary, but these policies exist in many parts of the world. This may vary by country for students wishing to study abroad and people wishing to work or apply for extended stay visas or immigrate abroad.   Things to consider when considering living abroad: Do your homework! Check the immigration/emigration policies set by the government of the country where you wish to work, study and reside. This will entail searching the internet for country-appropriate websites and information. Employment agencies in your country of origin may also have information about the country where you wish to reside. Consider your employment skills. As an example, some countries may permit entry but deny employment to people wishing to work in healthcare. The World Hepatitis Alliance has member organizations residing in many countries globally. We would recommend contacting a local World Hepatitis Alliance member in the country of interest to learn more about local policies. You can find the member list and contact information here. Many people living with chronic hepatitis B contact the Hepatitis B Foundation wishing to work in the United Arab Emirates (UAE – including Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Sharique, Dubayy, Umm, Qaywayn) and other gulf coast countries.) The UAE has a strict policy in place. Visa screening rules apply to five specified categories: babysitters, domestic servants, nursery and kindergarten supervisors, workers at barber shops and hairdressing salons, health club workers, and workers at health facilities. Anyone testing HBsAg positive will be denied a work permit and will not be permitted to reside in the UAE. The UAE also re-tests for hepatitis B a year after entry to confirm that new residents are not infected. Individuals will be deported if they are found to be positive for hepatitis B. An immigration policy may exist that appears to deny extended stay visas or work permits to people living with chronic hepatitis B, but you can challenge this with a letter and health report from your doctor. Occasionally, the information is dated, and the case can be resolved favorably. Often there is a policy in place denying entry or work to people testing hepatitis B positive (HBsAg positive) that cannot be changed by the applicant. This policy change must come from the governing body of the country.   What to do if you are facing discrimination: What can you do if you live in a country that discriminates against those who have hepatitis B? Get involved! Please contact World Hepatitis Alliance member organizations and see how you can help to raise the profile of hepatitis B in your country and fight for the rights of those living with hepatitis B. More voices, more action! Below are of organizations that the Hepatitis B Foundation has relationships with that are working hard to change policy in their country. Contact them today and lend your support. Yellow Warriors Society of the Philippines Hepatitis Foundation of Ghana Chagro-Care Trust, Nigeria   If you are faced with discrimination due to hepatitis B, it is important to know your rights and to have information to support your case. You can use the information on our site to help advocate for yourself, report your experience with discrimination on the Hepatitis B Foundation's Discrimination Registry, or contact the Hepatitis B Foundation at discrimination@hepb.org or 215-489-4900 if you need additional assistance.   

    https://www.hepb.org/resources-and-support/know-your-rights/immigration-and-international-issues/
  • Know Your Rights

    Around the world, millions of people with chronic hepatitis B face discrimination that limits their dreams, education, careers, income and access to medicine. The stigma that persists is based on ignorance and it impacts millions around the world daily. Hepatitis B is simply not transmitted through casual contact, and should not prevent anyone from attending school, working, having a family, or traveling.  The Hepatitis B Foundation is working tirelessly to end the stigma and ensure that people with hepatitis B are afforded the same opportunities as everyone else. Our advocacy successfully made hepatitis B a protected condition under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the United States. We also support programs to fight discrimination faced by people living with hepatitis B when applying to schools, jobs, or accessing affordable medicine. If you are faced with discrimination due to hepatitis B, it is important to know your rights and to have information to support your case. Use the information on our site to help advocate for yourself, or contact the Hepatitis B Foundation at info@hepb.org or 215-489-4900 if you need additional assistance.  Click links in the sidebar or below to learn more about your rights to: Health Insurance Costs Impacting Shoppers Living with Hepatitis B (2020) This report is a resource to help people living with hepatitis B make informed decisions when choosing a health insurance plan. It can also be shared with policymakers to inform them of potentially discriminatory benefit plan designs in various states. U.S. Schools and Education U.S. Employment U.S. Military U.S. Access to Medication Immigration and International Issues  

    https://www.hepb.org/resources-and-support/know-your-rights/