Hepatitis Awareness Month

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

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.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations