WHEREAS, The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common
chronic bloodborne viral infection and the leading cause of known liver
disease in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Often the virus does not cause any symptoms or signs when
first transmitted, a person can be symptom free for 10 to 20 years, and
because of this, many individuals are not aware of their infection; and
WHEREAS, Of those infected, 85 to 90 percent develop a chronic
infection; and
WHEREAS, The Center for Disease Control recognizes 1.8 percent of
the noninstitutionalized population to be infected. Based on this
percentage Washington state has 106,000 citizens infected; and
WHEREAS, The virus is transmitted primarily through exposure to
infected blood, such as blood transfusion, injection drug use, solid
organ transplantation from infected donors, unsafe medical practices,
occupational exposure to infected blood, birth to an infected mother,
multiple heterosexual partners, high-risk sexual practices, tattooing,
and body piercing; and
WHEREAS, Populations assumed to have high rates of infection are
people who were transfused or used blood products, veterans, prison
population, those who used or are using I.V. drugs, the foreign born
population, and those whose occupations put them in contact with blood
or bodily fluids; and
WHEREAS, There is no vaccine and no cure; and
WHEREAS, Through education we can find those infected, teach them
how to slow the progression of the virus through lifestyle changes,
slowing the need for liver transplant in those who will progress to
that level, and teach those infected how not to spread the virus; and
WHEREAS, Education is the most cost-effective form of prevention;
and
WHEREAS, The Governor has proclaimed March 24, 2003, as Hepatitis
C Awareness Day;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate join in honoring
both the victims of the diseases and those fighting for a cure on March
24th, Hepatitis C Awareness Day; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be
immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor
and to the University of Washington, the Hepatitis Education Project,
the American Liver Foundation, and the Washington State Health
Department.