LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to declare
May 2011 as Hepatitis C Awareness Month in the State of New York

WHEREAS, Hepatitis is a known public health threat and is known to be
caused by many viruses; and
WHEREAS, Chronic viral hepatitis due to Hepatitis C has been a disease
that has little or no public awareness due to its nature as being large-
ly asymptomatic until irreversible liver damage has occurred; and
WHEREAS, Hepatitis C currently infects nearly four million Americans,
including an estimated 158,000 New Yorkers, and there are about 30,000
new cases and approximately 10,000 deaths each year in the United
States; and
WHEREAS, The consequences of Hepatitis C cost approximately $7.5
million per 100,000 people; and
WHEREAS, Hepatitis C is largely nonreported and the public is unin-
formed about the virus; 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 gener-
al public; and
WHEREAS, Hepatitis C has been characterized by the World Health Organ-
ization as a disease of primary concern to humanity; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to declare May 2011 as Hepatitis C
Awareness Month in the State of New York, and to urge the citiznes of
this great Empire State to learn about the causes, symptoms, diagnoses
and treatments for Hepatitis C; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.