The HBV is the silent killer. It has the power to enter into the human body and has no way of pointing out to the victim that the virus has entered the body. Only when it is in a critical stage or the virus has almost destroyed the liver, the symptoms of cirrhosis and liver cancer start to become more common. That is why it is so important to get checked if a person is a carrier for the virus. People lack the knowledge of the dangers of the Hepatitis B virus, and thus disregard getting tested for it. Waiting till the last minute only makes matters worse. Also, if the issue isn’t fixed at hand, a majority of the Baby Boomers who are infected with the virus will grow older and many of them will face trouble paying for the treatment of Hepatitis B, thus asking for governmental aid. This problem asks for immediate attention, especially since about 40 Americans die every single day due to the Hepatitis B Virus. The country’s economy lies well if the problem could be eradicated now, or simply get worse by waiting.

Yet, for children this remains a major issue are young kids are more plausible to be attacked by the chronic Hepatitis B Virus. Especially in California, due to the thriving number of Asians, children get attacked more quickly by the virus. Statistics prove that Asians and Pacific Islanders are the most prevalent carriers of the virus. This disease which is often transmitted through sexual activity, blood contact, and through needles, also can transmit to a child while it is in the womb, if the most carries the Hepatitis B Virus. Many might argue that children in California have to be vaccinated for Hepatitis B before they can enter school. While this may be true, many children are still target victims of the virus as if they get in close contact with an open wound of any other child with Hepatitis B, there is a high chance, this child will contract the virus too. Also, research shows that if children are immunized universally, it has a stronger effect than if they are immunized individually. This means that since the carrier pool is drastically decreased, there will be a less passing of the virus between children. Even worse, is how children have a higher rate of Hepatitis B Virus than adults due to the fact that it was given to them at birth. Since the mother carries the virus, the teratogen will enter the baby’s blood and in turn, give out chronic Hepatitis B for the child. Even if the baby is vaccinated, there is a very low chance that the virus can be killed. However, as the child grows older, the immune system begins to fight at the virus, yet this only causes the Hepatitis B to create more side effects. This mishap is still under research studies in the medical field.

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When: Friday, November 5, 2010 at 5pm – Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 7pm

Where: Creekside Inn, Palo Alto, CA (NOTE location change)

Why: Networking, peer panels, HBV Plushies, poolside fun, great food!

Registration is now closed. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Cost: $50 registration fee for first 3 delegates per chapter ($75 for each additional delegate)

Team HBV and the ALC are offering the following funds for ONE DELEGATE from each chapter:

Registration: $50
Travel: up to $300 if flying from outside CA, up to $150 if flying from within CA, and up to $50 if driving
Cost for Delegates 1, 2, and 3 includes

Guest room for Friday and Saturday night (single gendered double-doubles (4 guests per room. each room as two queen size beds.))
Dinner Friday, breakfast & lunch Saturday, and breakfast Sunday.
Registration for Delegates 4+ includes all of the above except guest rooms. We may be able to negotiate an $89/night rate for you, which is very affordable with roommates.

Travel
Per chapter the equivalent of one participant will be supported:
$300 max reimbursement if flying from outside of California;
$150 max reimbursement if flying from Southern California;
$50 max reimbursement if driving.
If flying, please save receipt. Driving will be reimbursed by mileage, so no receipt is needed, but you will need to provide a map.
Reimbursement will occur post-conference payable to one individual per chapter. It will be up to each chapter to distribute the reimbursed fund.

Payment
Checks must be postmarked by: Wednesday, 10/20/2010.
Address check to: APAVH
Memo line: Team HBV Conference 2010

Mail it to:
Team HBV Collegiate Chapters Conference
Asian Liver Center at Stanford University
490 S. California Ave., Suite 300
Palo Alto, CA 94306

To see the exciting and fun-filled activities planned for the conference, visit the Conference 2010 Schedule page. Please remember that this schedule is subject to change.

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– U.S. Government and Non-Profit Organizations Join Forces to Fight Epidemic Affecting up to One Million Asian Americans –

WASHINGTON, D.C., DOYLESTOWN, PA AND SAN FRANCISCO, CA – September 14, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health, the Hepatitis B Foundation and the Association of Asian
Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) today launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the epidemic of chronic hepatitis B among Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage.  Chronic hepatitis B is a life-threatening liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The focus of the campaign is a new television public service
announcement (PSA) that encourages Asian Americans to get tested for this preventable and treatable disease.

Chronic hepatitis B is known as a “silent killer” because it can slowly destroy the liver over time without causing noticeable symptoms.  As the world’s leading cause of liver cancer, HBV is second only to tobacco among known human carcinogens.  Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent experience the greatest burden of the disease in the United States.  Although Asian Americans comprise only 5 percent of the U.S. population, they represent more than half of the estimated 1.4 to 2 million people chronically infected with hepatitis B in this country.

“The disproportionate impact of chronic hepatitis B among Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent is one of the most serious – but frequently overlooked – racial and ethnic health disparities in the United States,” said Dr. Garth N. Graham, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, Office of Minority Health at the Department of Health
and Human Services.  ”Because of their high hepatitis B rates, Asian Americans are nearly three times more likely to develop primary liver cancer than Americans of non-Asian descent.”

Hepatitis B can be diagnosed with a simple blood test.  Yet alarmingly, as many as two-thirds of Asian Americans living with the disease do not know they are infected.  The new PSA, noting that one in ten Asian Americans has hepatitis B, asks “Could you be one of them?”  Viewers are encouraged to visit www.hepb.org, where information about the disease is available in several Asian languages.

The PSA will begin airing in September on network affiliates and community stations in metropolitan areas with significant Asian populations, including Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, D.C.  Importantly, the PSA has been translated into Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean for relevant in-language programming.  The PSA is supported by funding from Gilead Sciences, a maker of hepatitis treatments.

“Our message is simple: Asian Americans need to get tested for hepatitis B,” said Joan Block, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Hepatitis B Foundation. “People who test negative for HBV can be vaccinated against the disease, and effective treatments are available for those who test positive.  But not knowing your status means that you are living with an
increased risk of dying prematurely from liver cancer as well as unknowingly passing HBV on to your children and other loved ones.  Too many people are suffering needlessly from this preventable and treatable disease.”

The new campaign reflects increasing momentum to address chronic hepatitis B in the United States.  In January 2010, the Institute of Medicine published a landmark report recommending new policy, legislative, community and medical efforts to confront and control the disease.  Additionally, HBV screening campaigns have been launched in a
number of U.S. cities, and proposed federal legislation calling for increased funding for hepatitis prevention and care is currently pending in Congress.

“Communities of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage in America are mobilizing and demanding that this neglected disease be taken seriously as a public health priority,” said Jeffrey Caballero, Executive Director, AAPCHO.  ”Campaigns like this and similar efforts taking place across the country can play an important role in raising awareness,
reducing stigma and increasing screening and treatment rates for hepatitis B – all of which are critical to ending this epidemic.”

About the PSA

The PSA, entitled “B,” was developed by 26-year-old photographer Bao Nguyen in collaboration with Boat People SOS, a national Vietnamese-American community-based organization.  The PSA was the winner of the B Real Film Contest at the 2009 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.  It is intended to be used for information purposes to help the public better understand hepatitis B.  The announcement is supported by funding from Gilead Sciences, a maker of hepatitis
treatments.  Participation of the Office of Minority Health (OMH), Hepatitis B Foundation and AAPCHO in this campaign and PSA does not imply the endorsement by HHS/OMH of any services or products.

For more information or to request a copy or images of the PSA please contact Lauren Graham at lgraham@hepBscreening.org or (212) 584-5015.

About Hepatitis B

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the world’s most common serious liver infection and is up to 100 times more infectious than HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.  It is passed via the blood and other bodily fluids through sex, the use of contaminated syringes and needles, or the sharing of personal items such as razors or toothbrushes.  The virus can
also be passed from mother to child at birth.  HBV slowly destroys the liver, and approximately one in four people chronically infected will die prematurely from serious complications such as cirrhosis (liver scarring), liver cancer or liver failure.  Worldwide, 350 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B, with the greatest number of cases
occurring in Asia and Africa.  An effective vaccine to prevent HBV has been available for more than 20 years, and is considered the first anti-cancer vaccine since HBV is the primary cause of liver cancer throughout the world.  However, universal infant immunization is not yet standard practice in many parts of Asia, and mother to child
transmission is the primary cause of chronic HBV infection in many Asian countries.  There are several effective therapies to manage and control chronic HBV, but up to 65 percent of Americans with the disease do not
know they are infected.

About the Office of Minority Health

The mission of the Office of Minority Health (OMH) is to improve and protect the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will eliminate health disparities.   OMH was established in 1986 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It advises the Secretary and the Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) on public health program activities affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Blacks/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders.  OMH and its regional staff also work closely with State offices of minority and multicultural health.  For more information, visit www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov.

About the Hepatitis B Foundation

The Hepatitis B Foundation is a national nonprofit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure and improving the quality of life for those affected with hepatitis B worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy. For more information, visit www.hepb.org or call (215) 489-4900.

About the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations

The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) is a national association representing 27 community health organizations dedicated to promoting advocacy, collaboration and leadership that improves the health status and access of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders in the United States. Since 1987, AAPCHO has advocated for policies and programs that improve the provision of health care services that are community driven, financially affordable, linguistically accessible, and culturally appropriate. For more information on AAPCHO and its Guiding Principles and Values, please visit www.aapcho.org.

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The Team HBV Collegiate Chapter Conference brings together individuals representing Team HBV chapters worldwide, Jade Ribbon Campaign advocates, and hepatitis B and liver cancer experts. The conference provides a professional forum for Team HBV chapters to share insights, best practices, and strategies to advance hepatitis B outreach, education, and communication. The conference is an excellent opportunity to receive updated hepatitis B news and legislation, network with other chapters, and advance the future of hepatitis B and liver cancer outreach education.

Follow your friends and chapter members throughout the conference! All Team HBV Conference attendees will be sharing their thoughts and experiences LIVE throughout the conference using East Villagers and other social media networks.

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In celebration of healthy food, healthy living, and healthy communities, 99 Ranch Market and the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University have joined together to create the Jade Ribbon Campaign reusable shopping bag—an environmentally-friendly way to raise awareness about an urgent health concern for Asians.

In an effort to raise awareness about hepatitis B, the major cause of liver cancer, 99 Ranch Market will introduce the Jade Ribbon Campaign reusable bag at all Northern California 99 Ranch Market stores. A kick-off celebration will be held at the Cupertino 99 Ranch Market on Friday, July 24th, where Miss Asian America Queen Louisa Liu will promote the bag and importance of solidarity in building healthy communities. A long time supporter of the Jade Ribbon Campaign, the Miss Asian America Pageant is dedicated to raising awareness about this vaccine-preventable disease that claims the lives of one million people every year.

Alarmed by the fact that 1 in 12 Asians are infected with chronic hepatitis B and 25% of those chronically infected will die of liver cancer or liver failure, 99 Ranch Market is committed to protecting the health of their valued customers. A recognized leader of quality ethnic food, the supermarket chain will give customers the eco-friendly reusable shopping bag, along with educational materials on hepatitis B, with every donation of two dollars or more to the Jade Ribbon Campaign to support hepatitis B education and outreach.

Together, Miss Asian America, the Asian Liver Center and 99 Ranch Market will encourage Asian Americans to unite together to promote the health and future of our community.

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