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  • Who is Ted Slavin? #virusappreciationday

    … Scholarship, 5(1), Skloot, R. (2010). The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Crown Publishing Group. Ted Slavin’s Story and more. Retrieved from: http://tissuerights.weebly.com/ted-slavin.html Skloot, R. (2006, Apr 16). Taking the Least of You. The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/magazine/taking-the-least-of-you.html Angsana T. (2010, Nov 9). Second Story from Ted Slavin. Retrieved from: http://angsanat.blogspot.com/2010/11/second-story-from-ted-slavin.html C, Anna. (2012, Jul 26). World Hepatitis Day: The History of the Hepatitis B Vaccine. Retrieved from: http://advocatesaz.org/2012/07/26/world-hepatitis-day-the-history-of-the-hepatitis-b-vaccine/  

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/who-is-ted-slavin/
  • Join a Twitter Chat: National Organizations Share Highlights From Hepatitis Awareness Month and Strategies for Successful Events

                Join Hep B United, the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, NASTAD and CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis for a Twitter #HepChat at 2 p.m. (EST) Thursday, June 8. The chat will highlight Hepatitis Awareness Month outreach events and allow hepatitis B and C partner organizations to share their successes, challenges and lessons learned from their efforts. Below are the Twitter Chat topic areas of discussion. Partners are invited to share images of their events in May, as well as best practices and challenges in conducting outreach events. Join the conversation with the hashtag #HepChat. T1: What community-based education, outreach & testing events did you conduct during Hepatitis Awareness Month? T2: How do you prepare for and conduct education, outreach, and testing events? T3: How do you engage key communities in the planning process? In hosting the events? T4: What educational or promotional materials do you use at your community based activities? T5: What are your processes for hepatitis data collection? T6: How do you notify and ensure people understand their test results? T7: What are your patient navigation and referral to care strategies? T8: What best practices would you share with others who might be planning their first event? T9: How can raising awareness in May and beyond address hepatitis B or C stigma? T10: What role will your organization play in eliminating hepatitis B and C in your community? Plan to share your hepatitis outreach events, successes and challenges, and pictures, or use this opportunity to ask the featured organizations questions about their work. Hosts and handles for the chat: Hep B United - @Hepbunited National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) - @NASTAD National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable - @NVHR1 CDC's, Division of Viral Hepatitis - @cdchep CDC National Prevention Information Network - @CDCNPIN (Moderator) Featured participants and handles for the

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/join-twitter-chat-national-organizations-share-highlights-hepatitis-awareness-month-strategies-successful-events/
  • Twitter Chat: Partner Highlights From Hepatitis Awareness Month

    Join Hep B United, the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis, and the Hepatitis B Foundation for a Twitter #HepChat Wednesday, June 15 at 2 p.m. EDT. The chat will highlight Hepatitis Awareness Month outreach events and allow hepatitis B and C partner organizations to share their successes, challenges, and lessons learned from their efforts. Below are the Twitter Chat topic areas of discussion. Partners are invited to share images of their events in May, as well as best practices and challenges in conducting outreach events. Join the conversation with the hashtag #HepChat. T1. How do you go about organizing and conducting community-based hepatitis education and outreach? T2. How do you prepare and conduct hepatitis B and C testing events? T3. What educational or promotional materials do you provide at your community activities? T4. What are your processes for hepatitis data collection? T5 How do you notify about their test results and ensure people understand them? T6. What are your patient navigation and referral-to-care strategies? T7. What best practices would you share with others who might be planning their first events? Plan to share your hepatitis outreach events, successes and challenges, and pictures, or use this opportunity to ask the featured organizations questions about their work. Featured participants and handles for the chat include: Hep B United - @Hepbunited Hepatitis B Foundation - @hepbfoundation National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable - @NVHR1 CDC's, Division of Viral Hepatitis - @cdchep HOPE Clinic - @AAHC_HOPEClinic Hepatitis B Initiative – Minnesota - @HBIMN15 Hep Free Hawaii - @HepFreeHawaii Hep Free NYC - @HepFreeNYC Liver Health Connection - @LiverConnection National Black Leadership Coalition on AIDS - @NBLCA Additional Confirmed Participants: CDC National Prevention Information Network - @CDCNPIN Coalition Against Hepatitis For People of African Origin - @CHIPO_HBV Hep B United Philadelphia -

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/join-hep-b-united-cdc-the-hep-b-foundation-and-others-for-a-twitter-chat-june-15/
  • "Hepatitis on the Hill" Advocates Fight for Hepatitis Prevention, And So Can You

    Hepatitis on the Hill advocates, March 2016. On Tuesday, March 8, more than 120 advocates from across the U.S. fanned out on Capitol Hill to talk to their representatives about the importance of funding the Viral Hepatitis Division of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dozens of people laid their hearts on the line and told their stories about how they, their families, and friends have been touched by hepatitis. In meetings with Congressional staff, and in some cases their senators, they shared stories about family members who discovered they had hepatitis B only when they were diagnosed with late-stage, inoperable liver cancer. Others talked about how lucky they were to have been immunized at birth, considering their mothers were infected. Courageous advocates described losing loved ones to hepatitis B and C spread through the heroin epidemic, and recalled indifferent healthcare workers who saw only addicts instead of human beings who had  lost their battle with both addiction and hepatitis. Our goal was to get our representatives to allocate more funding for CDC’s hepatitis division, which is sorely needed. It’s CDC’s job to investigate disease outbreaks and educate the public and healthcare providers about infectious disease. For example, CDC publishes a variety of reports and promotional materials to educate people how to protect themselves against hepatitis B and C. The agency also funds a “hepatitis coordinator” in nearly every state whose job it is to help prevent hepatitis, investigate outbreaks, and collect data—a Herculean task for just one person. Historically, CDC has been criticized for coming too late to the game to effectively protect at-risk communities about the spread viral hepatitis and create culturally-appropriate materials to help disadvantaged groups, including recent immigrants and injecting drug users. But part of the problem has been its dire shortage of funding. To implement these much-needed

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/hepatitis-on-the-hill-advocates-fight-for-hepatitis-prevention-and-so-can-you/
  • New Hepatitis B Treatment Guidelines Revealed at AASLD 2015 Conference

    … with either tenofovir or entecavir? Should people with compensated cirrhosis (liver scarring) and low viral load be treated with antivirals? Should pregnant women who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive with high viral load receive antivirals during their third trimester of pregnancy to prevent perinatal (mother-to-child) transmission of hepatitis B? Should children with HBeAg-positive hepatitis B be treated with antivirals to decrease liver-related complications? Reports from Joan Block about AASLD: --Hepatitis B Foundation medical director Dr. Bob Gish will be featured at a special session - Beyond the Walls of the Clinic - sponsored by Project Inform, which will discuss the importance of collaboration between clinicians and the community to address viral hepatitis. --- Dr. Anna Lok spoke on Sunday about treatment options for tricky situations such as pregnancy. The updated AASLD HBV guidelines recommend if an infected pregnant woman's viral load is greater than 1 million IU/mL she should be treated with tenofovir to prevent perinatal transmission. Tenofovir is preferred, but clinical trials have shown that lamivudine and telbivudine are also safe. --- "Within the next decade most liver disease in the U.S. will be self-inflicted, not the result of viral infection or some outside cause," according to Dr. Ramon Batalier at University of North Carolina. --- Currently, viral hepatitis is a huge silent epidemic in the U.S.; however, fatty liver disease is going to be an enormous liver disease tsunami if steps aren't taken now to address it. Final thoughts from the foundation's President, Dr. Tim Block: The focus at AASLD is on hepatitis C because there's truly a revolution going on in regards to the treatment of this virus. But interest in hepatitis B treatment is growing as evidenced by the packed meeting sessions, which is significantly different from years past. Speakers are noting that there is definitely a shift of scientists moving

    http://www.hepb.org/blog/new-hepatitis-b-treatment-guidelines-revealed-at-aasld-2015-conference/
  • Globally prominent advocate and physician chosen for Hepatitis B Foundation’s 2023 Community Commitment Award

    Su Wang, MD, MPH, who is a practicing physician in New Jersey, is one of the leading voices in the global hepatitis B community.  Doylestown, Pa., Jan. 13, 2022 – The Hepatitis B Foundation, a global nonprofit organization based in Doylestown, Pa., has chosen Su Wang, MD, MPH, FACP, dedicated physician and advocate, to receive the Foundation’s 2023 Community Commitment Award. Dr. Wang is the medical director of Viral Hepatitis Programs and the Center for Asian Health at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J. She is a practicing internist and also living with hepatitis B, having been diagnosed when she donated blood in college. A dedicated advocate to improving awareness, screening and linkage-to-care and treatment for people living with hepatitis B, Dr. Wang is a member of the Hepatitis B Foundation Board of Directors. She is immediate past president of the World Hepatitis Alliance, a patient-led international organization whose mission is to harness the power of people living with viral hepatitis to achieve its elimination. “We have never had another advocate like Su Wang, who merges her clinical expertise with her lived experience to elevate the voices of those most impacted by hepatitis B,” Chari A. Cohen, DrPH, MPH, Hepatitis B Foundation president, said. “She has been leading the global charge to motivate patients, community leaders, clinicians and policy makers to prioritize hepatitis B elimination efforts. Su has a global reach, and a local impact – changing lives for her own patients, her local community and around the world.” Dr. Wang has had remarkable impact in the field of hepatitis B. She has created hepatitis B screening and linkage-to-care initiatives in the Asian and foreign-born communities in New York City and Northern New Jersey. She leads primary care-based hepatitis care programs and advocates for simplification and expansion of treatment guidelines. As a mother herself, she has been passionate about EMTCT (elimination of mother-to-child transmission) and has designed the HepB Moms programs for pregnant women and their infants. She has served on several World Health Organization committees, including for guideline development and for the triple elimination of mother-to-child -transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B.  She amplifies the voice of people living with viral hepatitis and affected communities locally and globally. She was recognized as a Hep B Champion in 2014 by the Hepatitis B United National Coalition, a HepB Hero by the San Francisco Hep B Free in 2020, and as a 2022 Elimination Champion by the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination. “I am humbled to receive HBF’s 2023 Community Commitment Award,” Dr. Wang said. “I strongly believe that many of my accomplishments would not have been possible without the work that HBF has done in laying the groundwork for hepatitis B. Together, we will continue to be the voice for those living with hepatitis B around the world- many who do not have a voice.” Dr. Wang received her medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine and her Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. After completing internal medicine and pediatric residencies at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C., she worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer based at the FDA. Dr. Wang lives in North Jersey with her husband, Daniel Chen, four children ages 7, 10, 13 and 15, and they have three chickens, one gecko and Sir Charles the cat. The Community Commitment Award is presented annually at the Hepatitis B Foundation Gala, which will be held next on March 10, 2023. The 12 previous recipients include a wide range of advocates including #justB storytellers, dedicated philanthropists and valued advisors to the Foundation.    

    https://www.hepb.org/news-and-events/news-2/globally-prominent-advocate-and-physician-chosen-for-hepatitis-b-foundations-2023-community-commitment-award/
  • Hepatitis B and the US Military

    Currently, the Department of Defense (DOD) has policies that can negatively impact military personnel and military students. DOD policies, which do not reflect evidence-based science or current CDC recommendations, can result in inconsistent personnel decisions for service members with hepatitis B, which impede career advancement and make personnel vulnerable to medical evaluation boards and discharge. In addition, DOD policy does not permit enlistees or applicants with hepatitis B to serve in the U.S. Uniformed Services or participate in DOD educational or scholarship programs.   What we are doing: Since 2013, the Hepatitis B Foundation, along with dedicated civil rights advocates, have called for the DOD to update their hepatitis B policies and personnel management instructions to reflect the most current guidelines for hepatitis B management and treatment. Our stance is that having hepatitis B does not impact the ability of military students and personnel to serve, and that military personnel with hepatitis B do not pose a risk to others. This is based upon current scientific evidence and guidelines: Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable disease, and hepatitis B vaccination has been mandated since 2002 for all incoming DOD personnel; There is antiviral treatment available, in the form of one pill a day, to manage active hepatitis B infection for those who need it; There are simple blood tests available, and clear guidelines set by CDC, to periodically measure an infected individual’s viral activity, that would permit safe contact between service personnel comparable to a healthcare worker performing CDC-defined invasive, exposure-prone medical procedures. In 2018, the DOD announced a new “Deploy or Discharge” policy, to discharge personnel who are considered non-deployable for more than twelve months – this can include personnel diagnosed with hepatitis B. This policy puts the careers of hundreds of service members with hepatitis B at risk for discharge. Advocates are asking for Congress to pass legislation or include in an appropriate bill a provision requiring DOD to adopt comprehensive, updated, evidence-based hepatitis B policies, instructions and service regulations for applicants, incoming and existing personnel that are consistent with recommendations published by the CDC. Advocates also seek action by Congress to forestall and halt medical or physical evaluation boards and mandatory discharge of military personnel with hepatitis B, pending DOD action to -address deficient HBV policies and guidelines for identification, surveillance, and administration of personnel Infected with hepatitits B.  What do if you are facing discrimination: If you or someone you know has faced hepatitis B-related discrimination in the military, and to learn more about how you can join us and take action, please contact the Hepatitis B Foundation at discrimination@hepb.org or 215-489-4900.  

    https://www.hepb.org/resources-and-support/know-your-rights/us-military/
  • Healthy Liver Tips

    People living with chronic hepatitis B infection may or may not need drug treatment. But there are many other things patients can do to protect their liver and improve their health. Below is our list of the top 10 healthy choices that can be started today! Schedule regular visits with your liver specialist or health care provider to stay on top of your health and the health of your liver. Get the Hepatitis A vaccine to protect yourself from another virus that attacks the liver. Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking since both will hurt your liver, which is already being injured by the hepatitis B virus. Talk to your provider before starting any herbal remedies or vitamin supplements because some could interfere with your prescribed hepatitis B drugs or even damage your liver. Read more. Check with your pharmacist about any over-the-counter drugs (e.g. acetaminophen, paracetamol) or non-hepatitis B prescription drugs before taking them to make sure they are safe for your liver since many of these drugs are processed through your liver.  Avoid inhaling fumes from paint, paint thinners, glue, household cleaning products, nail polish removers, and other potentially toxic chemicals that could damage your liver.   Eat a healthy diet of fruit, whole grains, fish and lean meats, and lot of vegetables. “Cruciferous vegetables” in particular -- cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower -- have been shown to help protect the liver against environmental chemicals.  Avoid eating raw or undercooked shellfish (e.g. clams, mussels, oysters, scallops) because they could be contaminated with a bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus, which is very toxic to the liver and could cause a lot of damage. Check for signs of mold on nuts, maize, corn, groundnut, sorghum, and millet before using these foods. Mold is more likely to be a problem if food is stored in damp conditions and not properly sealed. If there is mold, then the food could be contaminated by “aflatoxins,” which are a known risk factor for liver cancer. Reduce your stress levels by eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of rest.  Keep in mind everything you eat, drink, breathe, or absorb through the skin is eventually filtered by the liver. So protect your liver and your health.

    https://www.hepb.org/treatment-and-management/children-with-hepatitis-b/healthy-liver-tips/
  • Análisis de sangre para detectar la hepatitis B

    ¿Existe una prueba de sangre para diagnosticar la hepatitis B? Existe una prueba de sangre sencilla para diagnosticar la hepatitis B que su médico o clínica de salud pueden ordenar llamada "serie de pruebas de sangre de la hepatitis B". Esta muestra de sangre se toma en el consultorio del médico. Son 3 las pruebas que conforman la serie de pruebas de sangre. A veces el médico puede pedirle que se realice otro análisis de sangre, seis meses después de su primera consulta, para confirmar el estado de su hepatitis B. Si cree que recientemente se ha infectado con hepatitis B, pueden pasar hasta 9 semanas antes de que el virus se detecte en su sangre. Comprender los resultados de las pruebas de sangre de hepatitis B puede ser confuso, por lo que querrá estar seguro de su diagnóstico. ¿Se infectó de hepatitis B, se recuperó de una infección por hepatitis B o tiene una infección crónica por hepatitis B? Además, es útil si solicita una copia por escrito de sus pruebas de sangre, de modo que pueda comprender completamente cuáles pruebas son positivas o negativas. ¿Cuáles son las tres pruebas que conforman la "serie de pruebas de sangre de la hepatitis B"? La serie de pruebas de sangre de la hepatitis B requiere solo una muestra de sangre, pero incluye tres pruebas necesarias para obtener un diagnóstico final: HBsAg (antígeno de superficie del virus de la hepatitis B) HBsAb o anti-HBs (anticuerpo de superficie del virus de la hepatitis B) HBcAb o anti-HBc (anticuerpo del núcleo del virus de la hepatitis B) ¿Qué es el antígeno de superficie del virus de la hepatitis B (HBsAg)?  Un resultado "positivo" o "reactivo" de la prueba de HBsAg significa que la persona está infectada con el virus de la hepatitis B y puede ser una infección "aguda" o "crónica". Las personas infectadas pueden transmitirles el virus a otras personas a través de su sangre. ¿Qué es el anticuerpo de superficie del virus de la hepatitis B (HBsAb o anti-HBs)? Un resultado "positivo" o "reactivo" de la prueba de HBsAb (o anti-HBs) indica que la persona respondió con éxito a la vacuna contra la hepatitis B o se ha recuperado de una infección aguda por hepatitis B. Este resultado (junto con un resultado de HBsAg negativo) significa que es inmune a (está protegido de) una infección futura por hepatitis B. ¿Qué es el anticuerpo del núcleo del virus de la hepatitis B (HBcAb)? El HBcAb es un anticuerpo que es parte del virus; no ofrece protección.Un resultado "positivo" o "reactivo" de la prueba de HBcAb (o anti-HBc) indica una infección pasada o actual. La interpretación de este resultado depende de los resultados de las otras dos pruebas. Su aparición con el anticuerpo de superficie protector (HBsAb o anti-HBs positivos) indica infección previa y recuperación.En personas con infección crónica, por lo general aparecerá con el virus (HBsAg positivo). Hepatitis B Blood Tests  Is there a blood test for hepatitis B? There is a simple hepatitis B blood test that your doctor or health clinic can order called the “hepatitis B blood panel”. This blood sample can be taken in the doctor’s office. There are 3 common tests that make up this blood panel. Sometimes the doctor may ask to check your blood again six months after your first visit to confirm your hepatitis B status. If you think you have been recently infected with hepatitis B, it can take up to 9 weeks before the virus will be detected in your blood. Understanding your hepatitis B blood test results can be confusing, so you want to be sure about your diagnosis – are you infected with hepatitis B, have you recovered from a hepatitis B infection, or do you have a chronic hepatitis B infection? In addition, it is helpful if you request a written copy of your blood tests so that you fully understand which tests are positive or negative. What three tests make up the "hepatitis B blood panel"? The hepatitis B blood panel requires only one blood sample but includes three tests that are needed to make a final diagnosis: HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) HBsAb or anti-HBs (hepatitis B surface antibody) HBcAb or anti-HBc (hepatitis B core antibody) What is the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)?  A "positive" or “reactive” HBsAg test result means that the person is infected with the hepatitis B virus, which can be an "acute" or a "chronic" infection. Infected people can pass the virus on to others through their blood. What is the hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb or anti-HBs)? A "positive" or “reactive” HBsAb (or anti-HBs) test result indicates that a person has either successfully responded to the hepatitis B vaccine or has recovered from an acute hepatitis B infection. This result (along with a negative HbsAg result) means that you are immune to (protected from) a future hepatitis B infection. What is the hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb)? The HBcAb is an antibody that is part of the virus- it does not provide protection. A "positive" or "reactive" HBcAb (or anti-HBc) test result indicates a past or present infection. The interpretation of this test result depends on the results of the other two tests. Its appearance with the protective surface antibody (positive HBsAb or anti-HBs) indicates prior infection and recovery. For chronically infected persons, it will usually appear with the virus (positive HBsAg).

    https://www.hepb.org/languages/spanish/bloodtests/
  • Healthy Liver Tips

    People living with chronic hepatitis B infection may or may not need drug treatment. But there are many other things patients can do to protect their liver and improve their health. Below is our list of the top 10 healthy choices that can be started today! Schedule regular visits with your liver specialist or health care provider to stay on top of your health and the health of your liver. Get the Hepatitis A vaccine to protect yourself from another virus that attacks the liver. Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking since both will hurt your liver, which is already being injured by the hepatitis B virus. Talk to your provider before starting any herbal remedies or vitamin supplements because some could interfere with your prescribed hepatitis B drugs or even damage your liver. Read more. Check with your pharmacist about any over-the-counter drugs (e.g. acetaminophen, paracetamol) or non-hepatitis B prescription drugs before taking them to make sure they are safe for your liver since many of these drugs are processed through your liver.  Avoid inhaling fumes from paint, paint thinners, glue, household cleaning products, nail polish removers, and other potentially toxic chemicals that could damage your liver.   Eat a healthy diet of fruit, whole grains, fish and lean meats, and lot of vegetables. “Cruciferous vegetables” in particular -- cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower -- have been shown to help protect the liver against environmental chemicals.  Limit foods and drinks with added sugars including sodas, fruit juices, desserts, packaged snacks and other foods that contain added sugar.  Limit foods containing saturated fats including fatty cuts of meat and foods fried in oil. Avoid eating raw or undercooked shellfish (e.g. clams, mussels, oysters, scallops) because they could be contaminated with a bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus, which is very toxic to the liver and could cause a lot of damage. Check for signs of mold on nuts, maize, corn, groundnut, sorghum, and millet before using these foods. Mold is more likely to be a problem if food is stored in damp conditions and not properly sealed. If there is mold, then the food could be contaminated by “aflatoxins,” which are a known risk factor for liver cancer. Reduce your stress levels by eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of rest.  Keep in mind everything you eat, drink, breathe, or absorb through the skin is eventually filtered by the liver. So protect your liver and your health.

    https://www.hepb.org/treatment-and-management/adults-with-hepatitis-b/healthy-liver-tips/