Glaxosmithkline Raise Awareness Of Hepatitis Among Latinos.

GlaxoSmithKline announced the launch of “Teaming Up Against Hepatitis” in collaboration with several Latino organizations.

“Teaming Up Against Hepatitis”, a comprehensive grassroots awareness program, focused on hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis B (HBV), directed toward the Latino community and their physicians. This program addresses the prevalence of Hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis B (HBV) among Latinos, and increases awareness of hepatitis through education and prevention.

Hepatitis is three times more common among Latinos, and one out of every 6 new patient cases is Latino. (i) In addition, if left untreated, hepatitis can lead to chronic liver disease and death.

Since the prevalence of hepatitis is highest among Latinos in the U.S. West and Southwestern regions,(ii) the “Teaming Up Against Hepatitis” program will tour Latino-dominant cities throughout Texas and California: Houston, Dallas, San Diego, San Francisco/Oakland, and Fresno respectively. To increase protection against hepatitis through vaccination, the target for “Teaming Up Against Hepatitis” is Latino families with school-age children (2 – 18 years old), and physicians with Latino patients.

International Latin artist, Jennifer Peña, pledged her support as the official spokesperson for “Teaming Up Against Hepatitis.” “I am honored to be part of the ‘Teaming up against Hepatitis’ effort, and to have this opportunity to give back to the Latino community, my very own community, that has supported me all along,” said Peña. “‘Teaming Up Against Hepatitis’ empowers Latinos to take charge of their family’s health and well being, and stop Hepatitis from destroying the bright futures of our Latino youth.”

Latino school-age children (2-18 years old) are at greater risk of contracting HAV and HBV if not vaccinated. Children frequently show no symptoms and may play an important role in the transmission of HAV.(iii) Hepatitis A is commonly transmitted through eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Children are at risk of contracting HAV at day care centers, and anywhere they come into close contact with an infected person. Hepatitis B infection can also occur through sharing personal items such as razors and toothbrushes, getting tattoos and body piercings, and during sexual intercourse. In addition, infants can also contract hepatitis B from their infected mother.

“Through our support of the ‘Teaming Up Against Hepatitis’ program, local, well-respected organizations that serve Latino communities can better educate and inform at risk families about HAV and HBV,” said Thomas K. Zink, M.D., Vice President of Immunization Practices and Scientific Affairs, GlaxoSmithKline. “These potentially deadly, yet preventable viruses are prevalent among Latinos, demonstrating the urgency to increase their awareness.” As a two-fold program, we are also encouraging the local medical community to immediately participate in a dialogue with their Latino patients about HAV and HBV.

The one day, in-language “Teaming up against Hepatitis” Latino educational event comes to life through the help of several community organizations: Latino Health Coalition in Houston, Dallas Concilio of Hispanic Service Organizations in Dallas, San Ysidro Health Center in San Diego, La Clinica de La Raza in San Francisco/Oakland, and Fresno Madera Immunization Coalition in Fresno.

The second part of the “Teaming up against Hepatitis” program effectively speaks to local physicians who treat Latinos by offering physician seminars supported by GlaxoSmithKline, running simultaneously with the community events. The physician seminars provide a forum for medical professionals to encourage ongoing dialogue between physicians and their Latino patients, and discuss the development of more in-language patient materials. Physicians will also learn about the cultural aspects that impact the prevalence of Hepatitis among Latinos.

Traveling to or spending considerable time in Latin American countries increases a person’s risk of contracting HAV.(iv) HAV symptoms include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, and fever. These symptoms can be prolonged or even relapse over a 6-9 month period.(v) HBV causes similar symptoms including vomiting and joint pain, but more importantly, can lead to chronic liver disease if left untreated. In turn, chronic liver disease can ultimately lead to death.(vi)

Chronic liver disease is a leading cause of death among Latinos.(vii) Ranked sixth among all causes of death among Latinos,(viii) chronic liver disease kills more Latinos than HIV.(ix) Although there is no cure for HAV and HBV, vaccination against these diseases available.

(i) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Summary of Notifiable Diseases. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Table 6. Reported cases and incidence rates of notifiable diseases by ethnicity – United States, 2000. June 14, 2002, for 2000/Vol. 49/No. 53: 15.

(ii) Prevention of Hepatitis A Through Active or Passive Immunization:
Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), MMWR, October 1, 1999, Vol. 48, No. RR-12, page 7. National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. Figure 3. Number of years that reported incidence of Hepatitis A exceeded 10 cases per 100,000, by county – 1987-1997.

(iii) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, The Pink Book, 6th Edition, January 2000, 6:195.

(iv) Prevention of Hepatitis A Through Active or Passive Immunization: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), MMWR, October 1, 1999, Vol. 48, No. RR-12, page 11. Figure 5. Endemicity patterns of Hepatitis A virus infection worldwide.

(v) Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Hepatitis A fact sheet, long-term effect column.

(vi) Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics. Deaths: Leading Causes for 2000. National Vital Statistics Reports. September 16, 2002; Vol. 50, No. 16: 9.

(vii) Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics. Deaths: Leading Causes for 2000. National Vital Statistics Reports. September 16, 2002; Vol. 50, No. 16: 49. Table 2. Deaths, percent of total deaths, and death rates for the 10 leading causes of death in selected age groups, by Latino origin, race for non-Latino population, and sex: United States, 2000.

(viii) Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics. Deaths: Leading Causes for 2000. National Vital Statistics Reports. September 16, 2002; Vol. 50, No. 16: 49. Table 2. Deaths, percent of total deaths, and death rates for the 10 leading causes of death in selected age groups, by Latino origin, race for non-Latino population, and sex: United States, 2000.

(ix) Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics. Deaths: Leading Causes for 2000. National Vital Statistics Reports. September 16, 2002; Vol. 50, No. 16: 9. Table F. Deaths and percent of total deaths for the 10 leading causes of death by Latino origin and race for non-Latino population: United States, 2000