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92_HR1098
LRB9218275KFkf
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The World Health Organization characterizes
3 Hepatitis C as a disease of primary concern to humanity; and
4 WHEREAS, Hepatitis C is considered a silent killer; no
5 recognizable signs or symptoms occur until severe liver
6 damage has occurred; and
7 WHEREAS, Studies indicate that nearly 4 million Americans
8 (1.8 percent of the population) carry the virus HCV that
9 causes the disease; and
10 WHEREAS, 30,000 acute new infections occur each year in
11 the United States, and only 25 to 30 percent are diagnosed;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, 8,000 to 10,000 Americans die from the disease
14 each year; and
15 WHEREAS, 200,000 Illinois residents may be carriers and
16 could develop the debilitating and potentially deadly liver
17 disease; and
18 WHEREAS, Inmates of correctional facilities have a higher
19 incidence of Hepatitis C and, upon their release, present a
20 significant health risk to the general population; therefore,
21 be it
22 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
23 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,
24 that, due to the prevalence and highly communicable nature of
25 Hepatitis C, we urge the Department of Public Health to go
26 beyond its current effort of providing information about
27 Hepatitis C as part of its overall effort to prevent
28 infectious diseases in Illinois; and be it further
29 RESOLVED, That we urge the Department of Public Health to
30 develop discrete public education and outreach programs to
-2- LRB9218275KFkf
1 raise awareness about Hepatitis C and promote prevention; and
2 be it further
3 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to
4 the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.