Bill Text: TX SR675 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing May 2015 as Hepatitis C Awareness Month.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-05-04 - Reported enrolled [SR675 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SR675-Enrolled.html
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WHEREAS, Hepatitis C currently infects nearly 4 million | ||
Americans, including an estimated 218,000 to 325,000 Texans, and | ||
up to 75 percent of those affected are unaware that they are | ||
infected because the disease often takes years, or even decades, | ||
to cause symptoms; and | ||
WHEREAS, Hepatitis C becomes chronic for over 75 percent of | ||
those affected with the disease, and it is the leading cause of | ||
catastrophic liver damage, or cirrhosis, and liver cancer; the | ||
disease is the most common reason for liver transplants and | ||
causes costly long-term health problems; and | ||
WHEREAS, Hepatitis C has many faces in Texas and | ||
disproportionately affects this state's veterans, aging baby | ||
boomers, and minority populations; it is the most prevalent | ||
bloodborne disease in the United States and in Texas; and | ||
WHEREAS, Individuals who do not know that they are infected | ||
can suffer potentially life-threatening liver damage and can | ||
unknowingly transmit the disease to others; and | ||
WHEREAS, Risks for transmission are associated with | ||
exposure to contaminated blood through blood transfusions, blood | ||
products, organ transplants, needle-stick injuries in health | ||
care settings, unsterilized medical or tattoo equipment, sharing | ||
of personal care items such as razors or toothbrushes, or being | ||
born to a hepatitis C-infected mother; and | ||
WHEREAS, The course of this disease can be changed with | ||
screening linked to appropriate care, which can reduce liver | ||
cancer risk by 70 percent and mortality by 50 percent; and | ||
WHEREAS, In the absence of a vaccine for hepatitis C, | ||
emphasis must be placed on other means of disease prevention, | ||
including education of health care workers, emergency services | ||
workers, veterans, and the general public; and | ||
WHEREAS, The Federal Centers for Disease Control and | ||
Prevention released updated guidelines calling for everyone born | ||
between 1945 and 1965 to receive a one-time hepatitis C test, | ||
which would save over 100,000 lives; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 2013, the United States Preventive Services | ||
Task Force issued a Grade B, or recommended, rating for screening | ||
for hepatitis C virus infection in persons at high risk for | ||
infection and adults born between 1945 and 1965; and | ||
WHEREAS, Early detection of hepatitis C infection promotes | ||
effective management and treatment of this infection and helps to | ||
prevent disability and loss of productivity and income; with | ||
timely intervention, those affected by the disease can live full, | ||
satisfying, and productive lives; and | ||
WHEREAS, Hepatitis C awareness education campaigns and | ||
accessible screening for hepatitis C can lead to early diagnosis | ||
and create a pivotal opportunity to link patients to care and | ||
appropriate treatment as a critical component of strategic | ||
efforts to reduce the burden and spread of hepatitis C; now, | ||
therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th | ||
Legislature, hereby recognize the month of May 2015 as Hepatitis | ||
C Awareness Month and urge all Texans to educate themselves about | ||
the causes, symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments for hepatitis C | ||
throughout this month and every month. | ||
Hinojosa | ||
________________________________ | ||
President of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that the | ||
above Resolution was adopted by | ||
the Senate on May 4, 2015. | ||
________________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
________________________________ | ||
Member, Texas Senate |