Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: May 5, 2003
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Audio Clip |
Senator Angela Monson
Governor Approves Hepatitis C Task Force
A
measure to increase public awareness of Hepatitis C has been signed
into law by Governor Brad
Henry. Senator Angela Monson
is principal author of SB 785 which was co-authored by Representative
Opio Toure.
The legislation directs the State Commissioner of Health to convene
a task force on the disease.
“Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop has called Hepatitis
C a worse threat to public health in American than HIV. Yet millions
of Americans don’t know anything about it. We’ve got to
do a better job of educating Oklahomans about this disease. That’s
what we hope to accomplish with this task force,” said Senator
Monson.
It is estimated that nearly four million Americans have been infected
and are at risk of developing chronic liver disease – the tenth
leading cause of death among adults in the United States. According
to the Centers for Disease Control,
Hepatitis C-related chronic liver disease is expected to increase substantially
during the next 10 to 20 years. Symptoms include jaundice, fatigue,
abdominal pain, loss of appetite and nausea.
The disease occurs by the transfer of blood or other bodily fluids and
can be spread through sharing needles or from accidentally being stuck
by a needle. If the equipment has not been properly cleaned, getting
a tattoo or body piercing could also expose someone to the virus. Currently
there is no vaccine for the Hepatitis C.
Senator
Monson said that because there was no reliable Hepatitis screening test
for donated blood or organs until 1992, it is likely there are Oklahomans
who may have been exposed but don’t realize it.
“And this is a disease that can be fatal. That’s why we
need to determine the best way to teach the public about what Hepatitis
C is, how to prevent it and what their treatment options are if they
have become infected,” said Monson.
The task force has until December 1st of this year to complete its work
and report back to the chairs of the Senate
Human Resources Committee and the House
Public Health Committee.
For
more information, contact:
Senate
Communications Division - (405) 521-5774
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