Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:
Hepatitis Awareness Month
WHEREAS, millions of Americans are impacted by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), which cause infection to the liver; and,
WHEREAS, an estimated 39,900 Virginians are living with HCV and approximately 2,000 HBV cases are reported to the state every year; and,
WHEREAS, more than half of Virginians living with viral hepatitis are unaware they are infected, thereby increasing their risk for cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death; and,
WHEREAS, with early detection hepatitis B can be treated and hepatitis C can be cured; and,
WHEREAS, the current epidemic of opioid and other substance use is increasing transmission of these viruses; and,
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following: all adults aged 18 years and older and pregnant women be screened for HCV; all at-risk individuals be screened for HBV, including people born in regions of the world where HBV is common, people who inject drugs, and pregnant women; all children and all at-risk adults be vaccinated against HAV; and all children and all adults aged 19 to 59 be vaccinated against HBV; and,
WHEREAS, the CDC recommends education of the public and healthcare professionals regarding hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment and the development of systems to conduct viral hepatitis surveillance; and,
WHEREAS, stakeholders from the hepatitis community have established the Virginia Hepatitis Coalition to advance elimination efforts in the state through advocacy, support, education, and access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize May 2022 as HEPATITIS AWARENESS MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of our citizens.
