Press Release
JULY 27th 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
|
CONTACT: Public
Information
561-671-4014 or
press50@doh.state.fl.us |
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL—World
Hepatitis Day is marked to
increase the awareness and
understanding of viral
hepatitis and the diseases
that it causes. It provides
an opportunity to focus on
specific actions such as:
Strengthening prevention;
screening; and control of
viral hepatitis and its
related diseases.
To commemorate World
Hepatitis Day, the Palm
Beach County Health
Department is offering
Hepatitis Testing, Vaccines
for Hepatitis B and
Education at no charge on
Friday, July 27, from 10:00
am – 2 pm at the Northeast
Health Center, 851 Avenue
“P”, Riviera Beach, 33404.
Awareness of the different
forms of hepatitis: what
they are and how they are
transmitted; who is at risk;
and the various methods of
prevention and treatment. No
appointment is necessary.
Also STD and HIV screening
is also being offered.
Health Department Director
Alina Alonso, M.D., says,
"Hepatitis infection
symptoms can present many
years after exposure. That’s
why it’s so important to get
screened and begin a
treatment program to prevent
serious and permanent liver
damage.”
Hepatitis viruses A, B, C
can cause acute and chronic
infection and inflammation
of the liver leading to
cirrhosis and liver cancer.
These viruses constitute a
major global health risk
with around 240 million
people being chronically
infected with hepatitis B
and around 150 million
people being chronically
infected with hepatitis C.
The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
reported that the hepatitis
C virus (HCV) now kills more
Americans annually than HIV,
the virus that causes AIDS.
Most of the deaths occur in
middle age adults. About 3%
of these baby boomers ages
(45-65) are infected. And
about half of the people do
not know they have the
virus.
Despite its staggering toll
on health, hepatitis remains
a group of diseases that are
largely unknown, undiagnosed
and untreated. This year’s
theme is “It’s closer than
you think.”
For more
information visit the Palm
Beach County Health
Department online at
www.pbchd.com.
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