The Hepatitis B Foundation (HBF) hosted the second Congressional Briefing on Hepatitis B on May 11 in Washington, DC, which was sponsored by U.S. Congressmen Charles Dent (R-Pa) and Mike Honda (D-Ca). It served as a high-profile beginning to National Hepatitis B Awareness Week, and the complementary public education campaign AIM for the B, during May 15-22, 2006.

The goal of the briefing was to increase awareness about chronic hepatitis B and to prioritize the disease as a serious health issue in the U.S. among key policy makers.

“Raising awareness about hepatitis is absolutely critical to the health of this nation,” said Congressman Dent in his opening statement.

“Great work has been done by the NIH and CDC to combat hepatitis, but we still need to push, and push hard for adequate funding because Americans are perishing from this disease,” added Congressman Honda.

To help put a personal face on this disease, Ms. Arline Loh, a retired computer manager, spoke about her experience with hepatitis B. A panel of experts then spoke about the problem of hepatitis B in the U.S., and the importance of screening and early detection of hepatitis B. Dr. Kris Kowdley (U. Washington) spoke about the urgent need for early diagnosis; Dr. Jay Hoofnagle (NIH) explained that screening is now even more important since it’s no longer just for prevention, but is also important for the management and treatment of hepatitis B; Dr. Leonard Seef (NIH) emphasized that people are not being tested because hepatitis B is a silent disease, an unrecognized disease; and Dr. John Ward (CDC) confirmed that one out of every four to five American adults is at risk for hepatitis B.

“Hepatitis B is an enormous problem in this country,” said Dr. Timothy Block, president of the HBF and moderator of the panel discussion. “Great advances have been made and we’ve come so far, but we can’t afford to drop the ball. Now is the time to close the gap and cross the finish line towards a cure.”

BInformed, Summer 2006.