At-Risk Populations -- African-American Physicians Group Issues Hepatitis Guidelines

The National Medical Association (NMA) has released a consensus paper calling for universal vaccination, increased education, advocacy efforts and ongoing surveillance and research to help eliminate hepatitis in the African-American community. The paper, "Promoting Prevention of Viral Hepatitis in the African-American Community," recommends universal vaccination to protect at-risk African-American children, adolescents, and adults from hepatitis.

"Hepatitis A, B, and C are serious and often debilitating diseases that have reached epidemic proportions in the African- American community," said Dr. Lucille C. Norville Perez. "Our goal is to partner with other leading organizations to increase education, prevention, and access to treatment to eradicate hepatitis within the African-American community and beyond." Data indicate viral hepatitis disproportionately affects the African-American community due to underutilization of immunization, screening, and lack of proper preventative treatment. In fact, it is estimated that among adolescents, African-Americans are three to four times likely than Caucasians to have a hepatitis B infection.

Hepatitis A infects 180,000 Americans each year. It is estimated that 1.25 million Americans are chronically infected with hepatitis B. Hepatitis A and B are both preventable through vaccination. Hepatitis C, the nation's most common bloodborne infection, chronically affects an estimated 3 million Americans. It is predominantly spread through contact with infected blood and can result in liver cancer, cirrhosis, or liver failure. Unlike hepatitis A and B, there is no vaccination for hepatitis C.

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