Senate Resolution No. 2556
BY: Senator RIVERA
MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
May 2020, as Hepatitis Awareness Month in the State
of New York
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
diseases that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 2020, as Hepatitis
Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Hepatitis Awareness Month; and
WHEREAS, May 19th has been designated as National Hepatitis Testing
Day in the United States; and
WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control will use the fourth annual
Hepatitis Testing Day on May 19th as an opportunity to remind health
care providers and the public who should be tested for chronic viral
hepatitis; and
WHEREAS, The American Liver Foundation (ALF) is dedicated to
facilitating, advocating, and promoting education, support and research
for the prevention, treatment and cure of liver disease; and
WHEREAS, The word 'hepatitis' means inflammation of the liver;
toxins, certain drugs, heavy alcohol use, bacterial and viral infections
can all cause hepatitis; and
WHEREAS, Hepatitis is a public health threat, known to be caused by
many viruses; this disease causes inflammation of the liver; and
WHEREAS, There are three main types of viral hepatitis, A, B, and C;
their effects range from not usually serious (A) to serious (C); in
addition, rarer forms of hepatitis include hepatitis D, E, and
autoimmune hepatitis; and
WHEREAS, In 2016, approximately 3.5 million Americans were living
with chronic hepatitis C, and between 800,000-2 million were living with
hepatitis B; approximately 75% of the infected population are unaware
they are even infected; and
WHEREAS, A vaccine is available for hepatitis A (HAV); as many as
1.2 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) which is
spread through blood and body fluids; and if left untreated, hepatitis C
(HCV) can be life threatening; and
WHEREAS, There is a lot of stigma associated with hepatitis B; the
hepatitis virus attacks the liver causing damage which can result in
liver cancer; hepatitis B accounts for about 80% of liver cancer cases;
and
WHEREAS, Chronic viral hepatitis due to hepatitis C has been a
disease that has little or no public awareness due to its nature as
being largely asymptomatic until irreversible liver damage has occurred;
and
WHEREAS, Currently, hepatitis C infects nearly four million
Americans, including over 200,000 New Yorkers, and there are about
25,000 new cases each year in the United States; and
WHEREAS, The consequences of hepatitis C reached a high in 2014,
with 19,659 deaths, and costs approximately $7.5 million per 100,000
people; and
WHEREAS, Hepatitis C is largely not reported and the public is
uninformed about the virus; and
WHEREAS, In the absence of a vaccine for hepatitis C, emphasis must
be placed on other means of disease prevention, including education of
health care workers, emergency services workers, veterans and the
general public; and
WHEREAS, Hepatitis C has been characterized by the World Health
Organization as a disease of primary concern to humanity; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at
the State, local and national levels to support the patients as well as
their families; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 2020, as Hepatitis
Awareness Month in the State of New York, and to urge the citizens of
this great Empire State to learn about the causes, symptoms, diagnoses
and treatments for hepatitis; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.
