Senate Resolution 139 PAG LIN 1 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1 2 BY BOETTGER and RAGAN 1 3 A Resolution to recognize May 2004 as Hepatitis C 1 4 Awareness and Education Month and to urge greater 1 5 public awareness and education regarding hepatitis C. 1 6 WHEREAS, hepatitis C is the most common chronic 1 7 bloodborne viral infection in the United States, 1 8 infecting 3.9 million people nationwide and an 1 9 additional 25,000 people each year, and is the leading 1 10 cause of liver disease, elevating the risk of chronic 1 11 liver disease, liver cancer, and other hepatitis C 1 12 virus=related illnesses; and 1 13 WHEREAS, sixty=seven percent of hepatitis C= 1 14 infected persons are chronically infected and 1 15 approximately 8,000 to 10,000 people in the United 1 16 States die each year from conditions caused by 1 17 hepatitis C; and 1 18 WHEREAS, there were 52,943 estimated cases of 1 19 hepatitis C in Iowa according to 2001 census data with 1 20 an additional 3,946 cases identified in Iowa between 1 21 January 1, 2002, and August 31, 2003; and 1 22 WHEREAS, infected individuals who are unaware that 1 23 they are infected are unlikely to take precautions to 1 24 prevent the spread or exacerbation of their infection; 1 25 and 1 26 WHEREAS, in the absence of a vaccine for hepatitis 1 27 C, emphasis must be placed on other means of awareness 1 28 and prevention of this disease, including education of 1 29 persons at high risk for hepatitis C as defined by the 1 30 federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as 2 1 well as peace officers, fire fighters, health care 2 2 workers, and the general public; NOW THEREFORE, 2 3 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the members of 2 4 the Senate recognize May 2004 as Hepatitis C Awareness 2 5 and Education Month; and 2 6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Iowa Department of 2 7 Public Health provide to the General Assembly the 2 8 findings of the State Advisory Committee on Hepatitis, 2 9 including recommendations for programs and policies 2 10 related to hepatitis C awareness, education, 2 11 screening, prevention, and treatment, by December 31, 2 12 2004; and 2 13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That, upon adoption, the 2 14 Secretary of the Senate shall send a copy of this 2 15 Resolution to the Iowa Department of Public Health. 2 16 LSB 6982SS 80 2 17 kk/sh/8