LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to declare
May 2015 as Hepatitis Awareness Month in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official
months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious issues that
affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to memori-
alize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to declare May 2015 as Hepatitis Aware-
ness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance
of National Hepatitis Awareness Month; and
WHEREAS, Hepatitis is a public health threat, known to be caused by
many viruses; this disease causes inflammation of the liver; and
WHEREAS, There are three main types of hepatitis, A, B, and C; their
effects range from not usually serious (A) to serious (C); in addition,
rarer forms of hepatitis include hepatitis D, E, and autoimmune hepati-
tis; and
WHEREAS, In the United States, one in 20 people will have been exposed
to hepatitis B; more likely than not, someone you know will have hepati-
tis B even though they may display no obvious symptoms; and
WHEREAS, There is a lot of stigma associated with hepatitis B; the
hepatitis virus attacks the liver causing damage which can result in
liver cancer; hepatitis B accounts for about 80% of liver cancer cases;
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 not reported 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; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at
the State, local and national levels to support the patients as well as
their families; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to declare May 2015 as Hepatitis
Awareness Month in the State of New York, and to urge the citizens of
this great Empire State to learn about the causes, symptoms, diagnoses
and treatments for hepatitis; 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.