Research Into Hepatitis B Continues
October 31, 2008
The research community is abuzz about hepatitis B, thanks in part to recent advances in treatment.
Treatment options were not a luxury afforded to infected individuals until very recently. Injectable drugs have been used since the early 1990s to slow or prevent hepatitis-B-induced liver damage. But the drugs were often not well tolerated, leaving infected individuals and their doctors short on options, hope and time. Read more
A Welcome from Fiona Ma
October 31, 2008
Welcome to the first-ever newspaper section completely dedicated to hepatitis B coverage. I am proud to work with AsianWeek and the San Francisco Hep B Free campaign in helping to educate and raise awareness among the general public about this deadly disease. It is through knowledge about hepatitis B prevention and treatment that we can stop most liver cancers, which are caused by the Hep B virus. Read more
The Greatest Health Disparity for Asians
October 31, 2008
Welcome to AsianWeek’s Hepatitis B Special Issue. We are excited and humbled to be the first newspaper ever to dedicate an entire editorial section to hepatitis B awareness. Read more
Alliance Against Hep B
October 31, 2008
San Francisco Hep B Free could save thousands of lives in San Francisco, and millions more around the world if the campaign becomes a global model to prevent transmission of the deadly hepatitis B virus.
Those numbers are impressive. But there is something equally as impressive and important happening quietly within San Francisco Hep B Free, in the ways the campaign is organizing people and developing a road Read more
Global Hepatitis B Initiative Launched in San Francisco
October 31, 2008
Since 1992, the World Health Organization has urged governments to add hepatitis B to the list of diseases for which infants are routinely immunized.
But official recommendations have hardly addressed other proven preventive measures, including universal screening and vaccination of newborns, adolescents and adults. Treatment also has not been promoted as a Read more
Corporate Philanthropy for SF Hep B Free
October 31, 2008
The SF Hep B Free campaign has thrived on the strong efforts from the health care and Asian Pacific American communities, but support from the corporate community has proven just as important for funding and implementing aggressive public awareness campaigns on hepatitis B. Education and outreach, as well as supplies for screening and vaccination, all cost money. And the corporate community has stepped up to the plate to help San Francisco become free of hepatitis B disease. Read more
Many Heroes and Heroines at SF’s Hep B Free Campaign
October 31, 2008
The San Francisco Hep B Free campaign has put San Francisco at the forefront in the nation’s fight against hepatitis B. The program, a first-of-its-kind collaboration with city government, private healthcare and local community organizations, seeks to educate the public about hepatitis B in an effort to eradicate the disease in San Francisco. Read more
National Leaders for Hep B Free
October 31, 2008
As representative for the 15th Congressional District of Calif., Mike Honda is well aware of the cost that hepatitis B has on the nation as a result of expensive treatments for liver cancer, hard-to-come-by liver transplants, and the lost productivity to the economy as the disease hits working people in the prime of their careers. Read more
Working To Stop Liver Cancer
October 31, 2008
Chronic hepatitis B is the leading cause of primary liver cancer, accounting for 80 percent of liver cancer diagnoses worldwide. For this reason, patients with chronic hepatitis B should undergo regular liver cancer screening, which includes a twice-yearly blood test and yearly ultrasound. Because of the proven link between chronic hepatitis B and liver cancer, and the fact that hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable disease, the hepatitis B vaccine is considered the first anti-cancer vaccine. Read more
New Treatments Available for Hepatitis B
October 31, 2008
Not every person with chronic hepatitis B requires treatment. All infected individuals should, however, be monitored regularly by a doctor knowledgeable about the disease. Simple blood tests can help doctors assess liver health and monitor viral activity in order to determine if and when medication is appropriate. The purpose of treatment is to slow or prevent liver damage caused by hepatitis B. Read more
Hospitals Partner in Hep B Care
October 31, 2008
At a press conference held on Sept. 18, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced aggressive new guidelines for hepatitis B. Those guidelines are intended to prevent new infections and greatly reduce hepatitis-B-related liver damage and death, particularly within the Asian and Pacific Islander American (API) community, which is disproportionately impacted by the disease. An estimated one out of every 10 APIs is infected with chronic hepatitis B. Read more
Galileo Celestial Dragons: The Team to Watch
October 3, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO — It was a bright and sunny Sunday afternoon—a perfect day to have fun, maybe hangout in the mall, do some shopping and watch a blockbuster movie. But unlike other teenagers, the members of the Galileo Celestial Dragons or GCD were out on Lake Merced doing the sport they love best—dragon boat rowing. Read more
