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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Hepatitis C is the most prevalent bloodborne disease |
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in the United States, affecting nearly four million Americans and |
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an estimated 218,000 to 325,000 Texans; and |
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WHEREAS, Because symptoms may not manifest for years, as many |
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as three-quarters of the individuals with the disease are unaware |
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that they are infected; left undetected and untreated, hepatitis C |
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can cause potentially life-threatening liver damage, and infected |
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persons can unknowingly transmit the disease to others; and |
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WHEREAS, Risks for transmission are associated with exposure |
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to contaminated blood through blood transfusions, blood products, |
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organ transplants, needle-stick injuries in health care settings, |
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unsterilized medical or tattoo equipment, sharing of personal care |
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items such as razors or toothbrushes, or being born to a hepatitis |
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C-infected mother; hepatitis C develops into a chronic infection in |
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over 75 percent of cases and is the leading cause of cirrhosis and |
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liver cancer, potentially requiring the need for liver transplant |
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in advanced stages; and |
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WHEREAS, While no vaccine exists for hepatitis C, recognizing |
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the risk factors can help decrease the chance of infection, and |
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timely screening and care of hepatitis C can reduce the risk of |
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liver cancer by as much as 70 percent and mortality rates by 50 |
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percent; and |
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WHEREAS, Efforts to counter the spread of hepatitis C center |
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around educating health care workers, emergency services |
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personnel, and the general public, particularly veterans and aging |
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and minority populations that are disproportionately affected by |
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the disease; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
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recommends that all individuals born between 1945 and 1965 receive |
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a one-time hepatitis C test, which could save more than 100,000 |
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lives; and |
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WHEREAS, Public awareness is a valuable tool in reducing the |
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burden of this serious condition, and with the cooperation of every |
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Texas citizen, we can advance the effective management and |
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treatment of this infection, prevent disability and loss of income, |
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and enable more people touched by hepatitis C to live full and |
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productive lives; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize May 2015 as Hepatitis C Awareness |
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Month and urge all Texans to educate themselves about the causes, |
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symptoms, and treatment of hepatitis C. |