YEAH!!! The next "BEST HOPE": Protease Inhibitors!

Drugs could undo hepatitis C damage

UT Southwestern tests revive cells' immune response to virus

04/18/2003

By LAURA BEIL / The Dallas Morning News

Texas scientists have discovered how the hepatitis C virus can
disarm the body's defenses, allowing it to become a permanent
occupant inside cells.

Laboratory experiments published online Thursday in the journal
ScienceExpress also suggested that drugs already being tested in
patients could restore the crippled immune response, allowing a
cell to rid itself of the virus within days.

The discovery offers a blueprint for new treatments of the deadly
infection.

Hepatitis C, which is most commonly spread through contaminated
blood or intravenous drug use, often leads to a chronic infection.
It is the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States.
Under the best circumstances, current drugs – which must be taken
for months and come with sometimes-brutal side effects – cure only
about half the people who take them. An estimated 3.9 million
Americans have been infected.

"There's a desperate need for new, more effective drugs to fight
hepatitis C," said Michael Gale, a researcher with the University
of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Dr. Gale and colleagues
from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston conducted
the new experiments.

The research team discovered that the hepatitis C virus drops a
kind of precision bomb once it invades a cell, releasing an enzyme
that disables a molecule called interferon regulatory factor 3, or
IRF-3. Without IRF-3, the cell's immune response stalls. With the
immune system no longer around to restrain it, hepatitis C gains
free reign of the cell, making copies of itself and moving on to
infect other cells.

But the UT Southwestern scientists were able to restore IRF-3 by
exposing the cells to drugs called protease inhibitors. Once the
cell was awash in protease inhibitors, the hepatitis C virus was
unable to take over. The cell's immune system was resurrected, and
the virus vanished.

"This is, I think, the weak link in the virus's ability to persist,
"Dr. Gale said.

And pharmaceutical companies are already testing protease
inhibitors in small groups of patients, Dr. Gale said, so experts
should know soon how the drugs fare in patients, not just cells.

A second paper published with Dr. Gale's study explains more about
how IRF-3 and its team of molecules protect cells. "This is a
mechanism that is actually used by many viruses," said John
Hiscott of McGill University in Montreal. The fact that protease
inhibitors restored IRF-3, he said, has implications for many
viral infections other than hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C experts, meanwhile, are pleased to have a new avenue
to pursue. "We found something else that may give us a handle on
getting rid of this virus," said Leslye Johnson, who heads research
into liver infections at the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases. If Dr. Gale's discovery leads to a better,
easier treatment for hepatitis C, she said, "It will be a blessing
for the population."

Hepatitis C Patients Encouraged to Avoid Any Alcohol

How much alcohol is too much in hastening liver damage in hepatitis
C patients continues to be unknown, but a new study suggests that
such patients should avoid consuming any alcoholic beverages to be
safe.

As reported in the March issue of the Journal of Clinical
Gastroenterology, University of Washington researchers reviewed
the literature regarding the combined effects of alcohol and
hepatitis C, focusing primarily on how alcohol influences the
natural history, pathogenesis and treatment of liver disease.

The researchers found that individuals infected with the hepatitis
C virus who drink alcohol in excess have more severe cellular
injury, more rapid disease progression and a higher frequency of
cirrhosis and liver cancer. They noted that alcohol use also
appears to decrease response rates to interferon therapy.

"Patients with chronic HCV should be encouraged to avoid alcohol;
however, the threshold above which alcohol results in accelerated
liver disease remains to be determined," concluded the researchers.

Researcher Dr. Margaret C. Shuhart told Medical Week that most
physicians advise their hepatitis C patients to abstain from
alcohol since a safe threshold has not been determined.

"Having said that, I personally tell my patients that an
occasional drink at a special occasion is unlikely to be harmful.
However, I always advise strict abstinence in those who have a
history of alcohol abuse/dependence," said Shuhart, of Seattle's
Harborview Medical Center, which is managed by the University of
Washington.

Shuhart said a National Institutes of Health-funded study is
being conducted at the University of California at San Francisco
by Dr. Marion Peters that is currently looking into whether some
kind of a threshold of safe alcohol consumption exists for
hepatitis C sufferers.
Source:Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 2003; 36(3):242-252

Subject: New Assist Device May Enable a Liver Damaged by Hepatitis

New Assist Device May Enable a Liver Damaged by Hepatitis C to Heal

A device that uses human liver cells may extend the lives of those
awaiting a liver transplant and even allow the damaged liver to
heal itself completely.

That could be good news for people suffering with hepatitis C,
which is the primary cause of liver damage requiring liver
transplants in the United States.

Set for phase II clinical tests, the extracorporeal liver assist
device (ELAD) is the first to contain functioning human hepatocytes,
liver cells that help sustain and support the work of the patient's
damaged and failed organ. Other liver assist systems use hepatocytes
from pigs.

Patients are tethered to the device by a catheter inserted into a
vein in the neck. After the blood is initially filtered, the
remaining plasma goes through cartridges in the ELAD where the
human hepatocytes help fulfill much of the liver's crucial
functions. The filtered blood and ELAD-treated plasma are returned
to the patient.

Dr. Roshan Shrestha, associate professor of medicine and medical
director of the liver transplantation program at the University of
North Carolina, one of the test sites, said ELAD could serve as a
bridge to successful transplantation and enable some patients to
make a complete recovery.

"A remarkable feature of the liver is its capacity to regenerate,"
said Shrestha. "If we can sustain acute liver failure patients
early on, right from the beginning, they may not need transplantation
and may recover without any significant liver problems, including
chronic liver disease."

Shrestha said a phase I clinical trial conducted in the United
States and Great Britain in 1999 and 2000 found that 11 of 12 patients
who received treatment with the new device achieved either a
successful bridge to transplantation or full recovery.

Shrestha said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was sufficiently
pleased with the results to approve a phase II trial of between 30
to 40 people where the main endpoint is safety and effectiveness,
including survival at 30 days. A phase III trial may follow with
an enrollment of at least 200 people with acute liver failure.

"Currently, we don't have very good therapies for patients with
acute liver failure. That's why we're hoping that the new technology
will make a big difference," Shrestha said.

Subject: Hep C Info: Hepatitis C vaccine, phase-one trials to begin in the US
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2003 01:55:13 -0400

Hepatitis C vaccine, phase-one trials to begin in the US

The World Today - Monday, 7 April , 2003 12:30:19

Reporter: Tanya Nolan

ELEANOR HALL: As medical experts worldwide grapple with the growing
incidence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, the globe's leading
virologists are meeting in Sydney this week to discuss progress on
another, much more common major health problem – hepatitis.

And one of those experts is predicting a vaccine will be developed
for SARS in a matter of years. Doctor Michael Houghton and his
team have just developed a vaccine for Hepatitis C, the leading
cause of chronic liver disease, and have received approval to begin
phase-one trials in the United States.

More than half a billion people worldwide are infected with one or
more of the five hepatitis viruses, with nearly 200 million suffering
from Hep C.

Tanya Nolan has been speaking to Doctor Houghton, who says the
Hepatitis C vaccine could be available within seven years.

MICHAEL HOUGHTON: The global burden is huge. The WHO have
investigated that 170 million people are infected worldwide. What
that means is over the next 10, 20 years the amount of liver
disease is going to be very, very large, requiring extensive and
very expensive treatment. And along with that is a necessity for
preventing new infections.

TANYA NOLAN: How has your vaccine managed to overcome the ability
of the virus to subvert the body's natural immune response by
constantly mutating during the infectious period?

MICHAEL HOUGHTON: Yes, the vaccine that we've tested in animal
models, and we're shortly going to be testing in humans, in a
phase-one clinical trial in the United States, is able to prime,
and I should say produce, anti-bodies to the virus, as well as
prime t-helper cells that recognise the virus, and in combination
the vaccine is able to prevent infection against a variety of
different strains of the virus.

TANYA NOLAN: You've proved in animal trials that it could protect
against heterologous viruses, not just homogenous viruses. Does
that mean it could potentially provide protection against other
forms or other strains of the virus?

MICHAEL HOUGHTON: Yes, absolutely, and Hepatitis C virus, like HIV,
is very heterogenous, so any vaccine that you make cannot just
protect against the virus from which you've made the vaccine, you
have to show it can protect against other strains.

And because these are such heterogeneous viruses, it's a key point
in vaccine development, and that's what we've been able to show in
the last couple of years, that we can protect animals not just
against homologous virus, but against different strains of that
particular virus type.

TANYA NOLAN: So how likely is it that we could see new drugs to
fight the virus, and a vaccine within the next decade?

HOUGHTON: Yes, well, we're just entering phase-one clinical trials
in the United States. There are three phases to a complete clinical
program. We anticipate finishing our complete program in about 5,
6 years from now. So I think by 2010, hopefully, we're optimistic
that we can have a vaccine on the market to Hep C.

In terms of new drugs, there's a tremendous amount of effort going
on globally at research institutes and in big Biopharma, to develop
inhibitors of key enzymes involved in the viral life cycle. Rather
like was done for HIV in the last 10 years, we now expect the same
process to be applied to Hep C, and for new drugs to be available
by the end of this decade.

TANYA NOLAN: As a virologist, how do you see the current medical
ability to control the outbreak of a pandemic of the corona virus,
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome?

MICHAEL HOUGHTON: Well, I think we need to do two things. First of
all, the measure that's already being taken by many countries to
quarantine infected individuals and suspected infected individuals,
that's very important in order to prevent a mass epidemic; number
two, with the technologies we have available now in vaccine
research and development, I think we can move fast in order to
develop a vaccine to this agent.

I am personally fairly optimistic that we can develop a vaccine
quite quickly. But having said that, just to develop a vaccine
that's safe, and has been tested, and approved by the authorities,
takes time, takes several years basically, and so, in the interim,
we have to be very carefully and keep up our surveillance, and take
adequate quarantining procedures, I think.

ELEANOR HALL: One of the world's leading virologists, Dr Michael
Houghton, speaking there to Tanya Nolan

Subject: HCV Patients encouraged to be organ donors/ Prisoners donating organs
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2003 00:21:08 EST


In the many years that LOLA has been educating within the prison walls, organ
donation has always been a very important part of our project. In fact, many
inmates consented to organ donation upon their release. However, in New York,
prisoners are not allowed to become organ donors and I am not sure if the
same law applies within other prisons in the United States. I would imagine
so for the following reasons below;

A few years ago the transplant community had tried to incorporate the concept
of promoting organ donation within the correctional facilities in hopes to
increase awareness. However, there was much debate over the issue between
community, medical professionals and pre or post transplant recipients, and
others. Another main issue was that the inmates are under the care of the
correctional facility and because of this, it is impossible for the
correctional facility to meet most of the UNOS and Dept of Health
requirements,laws, regulations and policy procedures associated with the
process of organ procurement. However, clearly upon their release into
society then he/she can become an organ donor.

Therefore I encourage everyone to incorporate organ donation not just in your
prison project but your HCV community outreach efforts, as eventually many
inmates will be released and someone in your community will be in need of a
liver transplant due to HCV.

For nearly 10 years or more, HCV positive liver organs have been used for
transplant on HCV pre-transplant recipients. As you already know HCV is the
leading cause of liver transplant in the nation. Currently, we have an
estimated 90,000 individuals waiting for a organ transplant, and their is
approximately only 3,000 organs available each year. 87,000 people will
remain waiting and/or die while waiting. The nation is constantly facing a
huge deficit of organs available. As a result, doctors were forced to try
other alternative methods such as Living Donor Liver Transplant and it has
thus far, proven to be successful source. However, medical professionals
would much rather use a non living donor for transplant, then take a
perfectly healthy individual and put his/her life on the line.

Likewise, when an HCV pre transplant recipient is in desperate need for a
liver transplant, it is very important for the pre transplant recipient to
understand that the transplant will remove his/her non functioning liver but
it "WILL NOT" remove the virus and/or disease. Therefore, although a doctor
would prefer a virus free liver for transplantation, if and when a HCV
POSITIVE liver organ becomes available, it will not be turn down as long as
it is in a perfectly healthy condition. At that time this organ's medical
history will be discussed with the pre transplant recipient as an option.
However, for those who have less than weeks , days or hours to live this
maybe the only option or chance at the gift of life.

Today a large percentage of the organ consenters range between the ages of 60
-70. So on that note, you are never to old to become an organ donor.

In this spirit, and as a grateful liver transplant recipient, I would like to
remind everyone that starting today through the entire month of April, we are
in celebration of "NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH". In recognition the color of
the ribbon representing organ donation is GREEN.

As a member of this coalition I will also like to invite you to visit our
bi-lingual website www.LOLA-National.org for more info on organ donation and
living donor liver transplant, plus links to other organ donation agencies.

"Don't take your organs to heaven,
Heaven knows we need them here!"

Teb...
Please explain to me why someone with HVC in their liver would want/need to trade up for another infected liver... I"m lost on this one.

I'm also not in favor of mining the prison population (while in or after release) for organs.

Harvesting organs from prisoners is all the rage in Mainland China....'nuff said?

Life,

First I believe that they are looking for Prisoners to sign an organ donor card - they are not going to take from living prisoners.

Second - what they are suggesting here is that if someone dies of causes other than HCV but is positive for HCV that they want to harvest that liver as a means of lengthening the life of someone whose liver is non functioning due to HCV... They would use an HCV 'infected' liver that was still functioning to replace a liver that was shut down.

My father lived for over 13 years with active HCV and it was only in the last couple of years that his liver was severely comprimised. It would be at this time that they would give an infected liver to keep this individual alive longer - I am guessing...

That is what I get out of it.

I am not supporting this by posting it... I am just posting it.

I was just lost....

The harvesting/soliciting of prisoner's organs is a slippery slope subject. (an opinion).
It's right up there with creating a market for women prisoners to be egg donors.

I get the part about compromised livers being useful in some instances... but what I don't get is what hospital/dr/insurance co would be involved in that. Seems the liability and cost would be phenomenal.

Like I said in another related thread, business in such things.. and the survivability of a given transplant/treatment is what everyone is looking for. Not screwing up a doctor's batting average is another consideration.--for them too.

Dr's who deal in heart transplants (I don't think) would deal in transplanting lesser defective hearts into patients. It seems like an odd idea to do the cutting for another diseased organ.

Life,

I agree with you on what you are saying. It is a debate and an ethical one at that...

I am not sure that I agree with this offering or suggestion? I try to think back to my father's illness and I think that if we could keep him alive another year or two until a non-diseased liver was available - well maybe - no probably we would have done it.

When however you look at the cost factor it would be outstanding. A liver transplant costs in the vicinity of 250K so now you would be doing two instead of one.

The 'batting average' is another whole debate and part of the decision making (IMO) which is wrong - it is a form of discrimination in my books.

Very true..... but prevail force in the world we're working with.

Ethical, moral debate... Would the blind man rather have an eye with cataracs?

What medical ethicist would find that acceptable?

Man!!!!! Is this exciting news or what!!!!!!

Notice Of Class Action/Texas Prisoners

T.P.L.U. is assisting Texas prisoner
Billy F. Allen TDCJ # 366613
Beto Unit
P.O. Box 128, Tennessee Colony, Texas 75880
as he prepares a Civil Rights Class-Action challenging the
constitutionally inadequate testing and treatment of the 40 to 50
thousand TDCJ prisoners infected with the life-threatening Hepatitis C
Virus (HCV).
Filing projection is mid May in the U.S. District Court in Houston.
Allen will ask the court to appoint counsel because no private attorney
or organization has agreed to represent the class.
All HCV infected TDCJ prisoners will be automatically joined in the
Class-Action.
T.P.L.U. is assisting this Class-Action with its available resources due
to the serious nature of the lawsuit and the thousands of HCV-positive
prisoners who are not being adequately treated.
Allen can use all the professional support that he can get in his
struggle against this barbaric system that refuse to test and treat
HCV-positive prisoners as required by State and Federal constitutions

contact:
Billy F. Allen TDCJ # 366613
Beto Unit
P.O. Box 128, Tennessee Colony, Texas 75880

This is fantastic news - there is hope that someone will stand up and take notice!

I think that this is one of the most comprehensive sites that I have come across regarding HepC. This is a must read site as it addresses just about any question that you may have regarding the Hepatitis virus.

Please note however that the site carries the disclaimer that is listed below. PTO also does not endorse this site as accurate or not. Please use caution anytime you are taking information that is not dispensed directly to you personally by a licensed medical professional.

http://home.sc.rr.com/fantazmink/HepCHollow/HepCFAQ.htm

0.02 DISCLAIMER (From above site)
The information presented in this document was written and developed by patients and members of the HEPV-L mailing list.

It represents an informal catalogue of accumulated knowledge by people who for the most part are not medical professionals. As this file is developed further, we hope to include references and citations which will document more of the statements that are made here. Much of the information contained in this FAQ was compiled from the varied and personal experiences and opinions on the HEPV-L mailing list. As useful as this information may be, it must not be considered medical advice, and must not be used as a substitute for medical advice. And as always, don’t forget to use your common sense. It is important that anyone who has, or thinks they may have, hepatitis should consult with a licensed health care practitioner who is familiar with liver disease and systemic disorders.

Thanks! This is an excellent site!

On May 19th Senator Edward Kennedy is submitting a Federal Bill called the "Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention Act". This Bill is intended to "establish, promote and support a comprehensive prevention, research, and medical management referral program for hepatitis c virus infection."

Kennedy's office is asking for letters of support from individuals, groups, organizations, etc....that will be attached to the Bill when it is submitted on Monday.

To submit a letter of support one must act in the next 24 hours [or less, which is preferable].

To obtain a copy of the Bill and to obtain info. re: where to send the letter [via email only], go to: www.hcvadvocate.org. Look for the bullet that says, "Special Alert" in red print.

Below is a copy of the letter I sent on behalf of our organization . Feel free to use any portion of this letter that you find helpful.

Thanks,
Elaine...AJFA
------------------
Senator Edward Kennedy
317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator;

…And Justice For All, a New Jersey-based human rights advocacy organization, is submitting this letter in support of the proposed legislation to enact the “Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention Act.”

Hepatitis C, the “silent killer”, is preying on the lives of Americans from all walks of life, along with creating devastating effects to families, institutions, and communities. The numbers of those affected are growing well beyond the projected estimates of the health care experts. The economic costs of this infection, affecting all realms of our society [that is, direct and indirect costs], are growing in a proportion that is now surpassing even the projected and realized costs of HIV/AIDS at the height of this epidemic. We cannot afford not to act….to prevent the spread of this infection, to monitor and treat those infected, to provide needed support to the health care institutions that provide services to those affected, and to educate our communities about this critical health care crisis.

…And Justice For All has worked diligently with other organizations in New Jersey and throughout the United States to raise community awareness, to educate those at-risk of this infection, and to promote institutions [such as county jails and state prisons] to take proactive steps to ensure these high-risk individuals get educated, tested and monitored. For those infected, to ensure they receive needed treatment and services. It is an up-hill crusade.

This proposed legislation will provide the much needed support and direction to enable a proactive and aggressive approach to combating, preventing and treating this too often devastating infection. It is worthy of our government’s immediate attention…there is too much at risk….and too much to loose…without it.

On behalf of the more than 2,000 Hepatitis C-infected New Jersey prisoners and their families; on behalf of all those who are impacted by, and/or at-risk, and on behalf of all the other similarly at-risk/infected prisoners throughout the US, we thank you for the opportunity to support this most vital and timely Act.

Sincerely,

Elaine G. Selan
Co-Founder/Prisoner-Community Liaison
__________________________________________________ _______

Yea this is great news! But, how are our loved ones on the inside going to get an experimental drug? Or maybe that's a dumb question - that may be the easy part.

I am a counselor working with Substance Abuse clients in a Texas SAFP facility and I have to say that this is one issue that has been a huge concern for myself and other counselors. We, both the offenders and the staff, are pretty much in the same boat as we are all at risk. This just plain shouldn't be and needs to be addressed immediately! Those afflicted need treatment and those who do not have Hep C need prevention and protection. This and other diseases should not be allowed to just run rampant through our correctional institutions be they city jails, county lockups, state prisons, or federal facilities. While there is nothing I can do to help Mr. Allen I did want to say that I am in support of his lawsuit and I hope that it is successful.

My best friend is currently located in the Price Daniel Unit in Snyder, Texas and has Hep C. The medical people there ignore his attempts at getting treatment. If the State of Texas demands to detain him, then they also have the legal responsibility for his current medical conditions. But they are not taking that responsibility and now my friend sweats profusely and is so fatigued he will sleep sometimes for 16 hours straight. I can't even see this kind of neglect on a death row resident. I would like to know what his legal rights are and how I can help him, and others in his situation, to obtain proper medical treatment. He was given a 5 year sentence...not a DEATH sentence, but TDCJ is turning it into just that! Anybody got any idea's?

WHAT'S GOING AROUND: Hepatitis C has become a common diagnosis among Americans
By MARY ESCHETE, M.D. and SALLY GALLIANO, L.P.N.

Hepatitis C has become a common diagnosis in recent years. This is because infection acquired many years ago is now causing symptoms. An estimated 3.9 million Americans have been infected. Of these, 2.7 million are chemically infected. New infections have declined from 240,000 per year in the 1980s to 25,000 year in recent years.

Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. Only 20 percent of persons infected have symptoms at the beginning of infection. These symptoms include jaundice (turning yellow), fatigue, dark urine, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and nausea. Many, 75 percent to 85 percent, of those infected become chronically infected. Of the chronically infected, 70 percent develop chronic liver disease, and some, less than 3 percent may die from the liver disease. Some people develop liver cancer. Many persons who have liver transplants have chronic hepatitis C liver disease.

The virus is transmitted by blood or body fluids with hepatitis C entering an infected person. People who should be tested include IV drug abusers, persons who received clotting factor before 1987, hemodialysis patients, persons who received blood or solid organ transplants before 1982, persons with undiagnosed liver disease and infants born to infected moms. The latter group needs to be tested when the baby is older than 12 to 18 months old.

Routine testing of healthcare workers, those having multiple sex partners and monogamous sex with a known hepatitis C positive are at increased risk also, but routine testing is not recommended. Not all infected persons require treatment.

Doctors perform evaluations that may include a liver biopsy. The current treatment for those who need it is pegylated interferon and ribovirin. The pegylated interferon is an injection given once weekly. The ribovirin is taken orally. This therapy works half the time for genotype 1 (the most common type) and eight out of 10 times for those with genotype 2 and 3.

There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C. Prevention is not sharing personal care objects that might contain blood, such as razors and toothbrushes. Do not shoot up drugs or share needles with those who do. If you are a healthcare worker, follow rules for handling needles and sharps. If getting a tattoo or body piercing, consider the risks. If the artist or piercer does not follow good health practices, the tools could be contaminated with someone else?s blood.

Hepatitis C can be spread by sex, but this is rare. Standard precautions to prevent sexually transmitted diseases are recommended. Those who are hepatitis C positive should not be blood or organ donors.

For general information, visit the Centers for Disease Control Web site at www.cdc.gov.

Mary Eschete, M.D., is board certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases. Sally Galliano, LPN, is employed in the Infection Control/Employee Health Department of Louisiana State University/Chabert Medical Center.
Source: Via Email From Hepatitis C Newsletter.

HEPATITIS C NEWSLETTER is news, etc. related to hepatitis C (alternative treatments and advances in medical treatment). To subscribe send blank e-mail to: HepC-subscribe@topica.com

An attorney and partner in a prominent law firm located in both NJ and PA, has filed a class action suit in Federal Court [NJ District Court] against the NJ DOC and CMS on behalf of NJ State prisoners who have Hepatitic C along with associated other classes of affected individuals. This suit, submitted it's 2nd amended class action complaint in August, 2003 [1.02cv4993]. ...And Justice For All, a NJ-based prisoner advocacy organization, is working closely with this attorney group on this suit.

The suit is going after 4 different classes of individuals, but the primary 2 groups are those who are currently incarcerated in NJ State prisons and know they have Hep C and individuals who found out they had Hep C while in prison and were provided no information regarding the disease, transmission, possible consequences of infection, or precautions to be taken prior to one's release and have since been released from prison.

If you know anyone who fits into one of these two classes [or you, yourself fit this criteria] and want further information, please PM me. If you want the attorney to send out an informational packet to you, please submit the individual's name, State and SBI Nos. and location [or street address, if home]. There is NO obligation to join the class suit and by submitting the person's name, etc.... that information will not be used for any other purpose.

It is important to get moving on this asap as we are in the process of requesting the medical records from all identified plaintiffs who have "C" to identify health care services trends and extent of current disease process, etc..... One needs to join the suit for record requests to be filed w/the DOC/CSM and then processed.

Please feel free to pass on this information to individuals, groups, organizations, etc.... who may find this information useful, etc.....

MY HUSBAND WAS DX W/ HEP C ABOUT 6 YRS AGO. THEN WHEN HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO CLEMENTS UNIT HE WAS GIVEN THE HEP C TREATMENT. HE GOT SUB Q INJECTIONS 3 TIMES A WEEK. FOR ABOUT 6-9 MONTHS ALONG W/ ORAL MEDS. HE HAS BEEN NEGATIVE ON THE PAST LFT'S ( LIVER FUNCTIONS TEST ). IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE HE COMPLETED HIS TREATMENT. I'M JUST HAPPY EVERYTHING TURNED OUT WELL.

My husband was diagnosed over a year ago with Hep C - I have fought with him about accepting treatment for it while inside simply because TDCJ has tried to make him sign a waiver stating that they are NOT responsible for anything that happens to him while taking the treatment....make sure that your loved one reads ANYTHING and EVERY word of any document that they are signing -

I recently happened upon a site that is ex-inmate owned and operated in NY City. They produce a quarterly newsletter that is worth its weight in gold as far as I am concerned. This newsletter is free to inmates and others may subscribe with a small donation. A recent issue covered Hepatitis C across the country within all institutions and is a must read. The site may be found at www.fortunesociety.org. You can read excerpts from all of their topics, all of which are timely and important to all of us. Another one of those sites like PTO I wish I had found years ago instead of a month ago. Take a look and sign your loved one up - they'll thank you!

judy

p.s. you can request the Hep C issue from their archives along with other back issues. They are also looking for contributors of stories right now with a 12/19/04 deadline date. A contributed story buys a subscription also.

..Scary!

Kissing does not spread hepatitis....

i am copying some information on transmission, and i am going to send you all some very good links...

i know it is scary, and i know there is so much conflicting information....but, the sources i use are some of the top researchers, and doctors in the u.s. working on hep c

i myself have hep c since 1993....

i also work for public radio and have done a show on hep c..

the person i interviewed carol craig was on 20/20, and is involved with one of the top doctors Dr. John Hoefs..plus does tons of advocacy, and is the key organizer in orange county california for hep c....

my prayers are with you all..
francis

HCV Transmission

HCV is transmitted by direct blood-to-blood contact. Transmission routes include sharing drug paraphernalia for both injection and non-injection drugs (needles, cookers, tourniquets, straws, pipes, etc.). Needles used for tattooing, body piercing, and acupuncture may also spread HCV. Sharing personal items such as razors, toothbrushes, or nail files is a less likely but still possible transmission route.

Before 1992, many people contracted HCV through blood or blood product transfusions. In 1992, a reliable blood test to identify HCV antibodies became available. Since then, the blood supply has been screened. Today the likelihood of contracting HCV through infected blood is less than .01%. A small percentage of people (estimated at 1-3%) may contract HCV through unprotected sexual activity. Healthcare workers are at risk for HCV infection because needle-stick accidents and unavoidable situations may result in direct contact with blood from an infected individual.

Perinatal transmission from mothers with HCV to their infants before or during birth occurs less than 5% of the time. Whether or not transmission occurs may depend on the presence of high levels of the virus in the mother’s blood; mothers coinfected with HBV or HIV are more likely to transmit HCV to their babies. Some studies have shown that HCV is present in breast milk, but transmission through breast feeding is believed to be extremely rare.

The transmission route for up 10% individuals infected with HCV cannot be identified. HCV is not transmitted by casual contact such as sneezing, coughing, hugging, or sharing eating utensils and drinking glasses.

this might help=}

http://hcvadvocate.org/

all the info i copied for you all above on kissing, transmission only applies to hep c, for hep b is quite different in it's transmissino...

thank you Francis, this is good info.

correct and reliable information is very important...

it is very rare to be infected with hep c by sex, sexual transmission between individuals in a stable, single partner, monogomous relationship rarerly-if ever occurs, it is transmitted by blood, and rarely passed from a mother to her newborn, there is a 6% risk, and is highest during delivery, it is very rare to never -to pass hep c through breastfeeding to your baby-

there seems to be a higher rate of hep c when there are multiple partners, but, other variables such as rough sex, iv drugs, tartoos may also be the reason...

hep c is definitely passed through blood, sharing your works, tattoo needles, toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers can be risky if dirty with blood-so don't share-also needle-stick accidents (often healthcare workers are infected this way), before 1992 if you received a blood transfusion you could have been infected-however, before 1986 was when there was no understanding of hep c-therefore if you received a blood transfusion before 1986 you can be at a higher risk, intranasal use of cocaine....the virus is highly concentrated in blood, so even if you cleaned your needles before sharing the needle could still be contaminated..

very careful cleaning is necessary of any blood spills, use gloves if available, use diluted bleach if available, if no gloves are available keep all cuts, sores or wounds on your skin away from the blood...

all info is from "Living with Hepatits C; A Survivor's Guide, by Gregory T. Everson, M.D. Director of Hepatology, university of colorado..

take care of yourself-
francis

Notice Of Class Action/Texas Prisoners

T.P.L.U. is assisting Texas prisoner
Billy F. Allen TDCJ # 366613
Beto Unit
P.O. Box 128, Tennessee Colony, Texas 75880
as he prepares a Civil Rights Class-Action challenging the
constitutionally inadequate testing and treatment of the 40 to 50
thousand TDCJ prisoners infected with the life-threatening Hepatitis C
Virus (HCV).
Filing projection is mid May in the U.S. District Court in Houston.
Allen will ask the court to appoint counsel because no private attorney
or organization has agreed to represent the class.
All HCV infected TDCJ prisoners will be automatically joined in the
Class-Action.
T.P.L.U. is assisting this Class-Action with its available resources due
to the serious nature of the lawsuit and the thousands of HCV-positive
prisoners who are not being adequately treated.
Allen can use all the professional support that he can get in his
struggle against this barbaric system that refuse to test and treat
HCV-positive prisoners as required by State and Federal constitutions

contact:
Billy F. Allen TDCJ # 366613
Beto Unit
P.O. Box 128, Tennessee Colony, Texas 75880


First off PLEASE reply to this! MY other e-mail is "mickey903@valornet.com" I first went to TDC in 1987 then in 1999 and in 1992 each time I told them that I had previously had hep b. I was exemted from kitchen work every time. When I came home in 1995 I was never told any thing about hepc. I had had many symptoms over a long period of time. In 1996 I was told that I had C and it is untreatable . I worked as a hairdresser on the Renasausance Unit in Lockheart and my direct supervisor was Sarha Bush, she had all af us tested for cumunicuable diseases. TDC had to have known I had this as far back as 95. I also had a close friend who passed away less than a year from release from Hepc and was not told till the day af his release that he had it. his familey would be very happy to give more info. Thank you Rea.

My husband was diagnosed over a year ago with Hep C - I have fought with him about accepting treatment for it while inside simply because TDCJ has tried to make him sign a waiver stating that they are NOT responsible for anything that happens to him while taking the treatment....make sure that your loved one reads ANYTHING and EVERY word of any document that they are signing -

If treatment is there take it. TDC never told me and now treatment is not an option. Live to fight the good fight. Live to do the right thing for your self and those who love you. We are not promised tomorrow and messed up yesterday. So go for it and live to smile with your loved ones. Rea

Published in LiP Magazine
[http://www.lipmagazine.org]

View the full version of this article on the LiP website

Hepatitis C :
A Silent Epidemic Strikes U.S. Prisons

by Silja J. A. Talvi
05.07.01

It's been called the nation's most insidious virus.

In a medium-security prison in La Grange, Kentucky, Anthony Nicholas
Ware has got it. And at F.C.I. Coleman, a federal prison in Florida,
Raymond James Hannum has got it as well.

A 'silent epidemic' that has swept the nation, hepatitis C virus (or
HCV) is now the most common, chronic, blood-borne infection in the
U.S. And it's precisely the stealthy, long-term silence of the virus
that makes it as dangerous as it is. Because hepatitis C often causes
no noticeable symptoms for up to 20 or 30 years after infection, most
of those who are infected have no idea they are living with the
potentially life-threatening infection.

The Damage Done

Conservatively, it's estimated that some 4 million Americans are now
infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). By comparison, less than 1
million Americans are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

And the nation's 2 million prisoners aren't even included in that
estimate. While the number of new HCV infections in the nation has
declined over the last decade, the incremental progress that has been
made on educating and testing the general public is now severely
threatened by what amounts to staggering infection rates behind bars.

By many accounts, the nation's prison populations are harboring the
highest concentrations of HCV in the country. From state to state,
between 20% to 60% of the current national inmate population is
believed to harbor the virus, which can lead to chronic liver
disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer. There is no vaccine--or
foolproof cure--for HCV.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

In response, state prison administrators have been implementing
varied and divergent approaches to address the rates of infection.

Some state prison systems, including Oklahoma's, have gone so far as
to adopt a "don't ask, don't tell" policy as a way of avoiding costs
affiliated with treatment of HCV. Faced with 28% and 37% infection
rates among male and female inmates, respectively, the Texas state
prison system took a different approach and drafted a plan last year
to provide HCV testing, monitoring and treatment to those with
chronic infections.

Other state correctional systems, including those in New York and
California, say they provide testing upon request, and treatment if a
prisoner can pass certain criteria.

But prisoners and their advocates insist that too little is being
done, too late. The bottom line, they say, comes down to money, and
not the welfare of inmates--or the community at large.

"Prisoners are going in expecting to do 10 to 15 years, and they're
ending up with a death sentence," says Jackie Walker, AIDS
Information Coordinator for the National Prison Project of the
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), in Washington, D.C. "They're
not getting the [medical] treatment that they deserve to receive."

Often, says Walker, prison officials cite the high cost of treatment
to prisoners as the reason for the denial of treatment.

And treatment is expensive. Only two antiviral drugs are currently
approved for use in treating HCV: interferon and ribavirin. Standard
treatment per person, per year, can run from $8,000-$20,000. HCV
medications are usually given over the course of one year.

Nor is drug therapy guaranteed to work. According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), interferon has a 10 to 20
percent success rate when used alone. Combination therapy, using both
interferon and ribavirin, is effective 30 to 40 percent of the time.
Both drugs are known to have potentially severe side effects.

"This is an area where, ultimately, the patient should be able to
choose whether to go on the treatment. But in [the prison system],
that's not the way it works," says Jack Beck, a Supervising Attorney
of the Prisoner's Rights Project of the Legal Aid Society in New
York. "If someone knows what the risks and benefits are, they should
be able to receive treatment as long as it's within medical
guidelines. And that is not currently the case."

Beck, who has been involved in a case against the New York Department
of Corrections for over a decade relating to the care of HIV-positive
prisoners, says that he and others believe upwards of 30 to 40
percent of all inmates are infected, amounting to roughly 25,000
prisoners. Co-infection of HIV and HCV, according to Beck, is also
very high among the prisoners.

But only slightly over 100 inmates are currently receiving treatment,
says Beck, out of more than 70,000 prisoners statewide.

That number is as low as it is, he says, because the diagnostic
process in prison can drag on for months, and the criteria for
treatment is very difficult to meet. "I believe part of the strategy
[of prison officials] is to "filter" as much as possible, and to
restrict the number of people on therapy, because if they really
started treating all the people who are infected, the cost would be
phenomenal."

The New York State Department of Corrections did not provide a
response to this allegation or to general questions about treatment
policies.

Cruel & Unusual Punishment

Beck and other advocates for prisoners say that not treating inmates
in need of care is both a violation of the 8th amendment
(prohibiting "cruel and unusual punishment"), as well as a violation
of a landmark 1976 Supreme Court ruling in Estelle v. Gamble, which
determined that inmates have a right to adequate medical care for
serious medical needs.

People at particular risk for infection include past or present
injection drug users (IDUs), medical care workers exposed to
contaminated blood, and those who received blood transfusions before
1992, when a screening test was widely implemented. According to the
CDC, roughly 20 percent of recent cases of HCV infection are due to
sexual activity. Unsterilized tattoo or piercing equipment, as well
as intranasal drug use also puts people at higher risk for HCV.

Some 10,000 deaths a year are currently attributed to chronic HCV
infection, and the CDC has predicted that this number will triple in
the next 20 years. HCV infection is also the most common reason for
liver transplantation in the U.S. One transplant can easily cost over
a quarter-million dollars.

Dying For Treatment

Anthony Nicholas Ware, a 42-year-old inmate serving a 22-year-
sentence at the medium-security Luther Luckett Correctional Complex
in La Grange, Kentucky, hopes that he will receive treatment before
his HCV infection worsens significantly. Already, says Ware, he gets
severely fatigued, and suspects that his infection has progressed to
the middle, or moderate fibrosis stage.

Ware, who has joined a lawsuit against the correctional facility, can
only guess at the status of his HCV infection because the prison has
yet to perform a requested liver biopsy. Ware says that he has been
requesting additional testing and treatment for his HCV since, and
his requests to treat himself with herbs and vitamins were thwarted.
Despite his doctor's approval, says Ware, he could not obtain the
prison's permission to order liver-cleansing products like milk
thistle from outside vendors.

Alan S. Rubin, a Louisville-based attorney representing Ware and
roughly 50 other inmates in their complaint against the Luther
Luckett Correctional Complex, says the prison has always maintained
that treatment is available, but that no one was able to meet strict
treatment criteria. The list of exclusionary criteria, obtained by
this reporter, mandates that inmates who are HIV-positive, and those
who have a history of illicit drug use in the preceding 12 months,
cannot be treated.

Already, says Rubin, at least two people have died behind bars at
this prison because of complications from HCV. And he continues to
receive letters on a weekly basis from inmates who are learning that
they're HCV-infected and want to be monitored and treated.

"It's not right," says Rubin, who points to testimony from Kentucky's
Department of Corrections that one-third of inmates are likely
infected with HCV. "In the next five to ten years, if something
doesn't change, we're going to see the death rates from liver disease
skyrocketing among prisoners and among those who have been recently
paroled."

Rubin has won a single, significant legal victory on the issue of HCV
treatment in the case of Michael Paulley, an Army veteran serving a
20-year sentence at Luther Luckett. Paulley tested positive for HCV
and had already developed cirrhosis of the liver when he was seen by
a hepatitis specialist, Dr. Bennett Cecil, at the Louisville Veterans
Affairs Medical Center.

Although the Veteran's Affairs office was willing to pay for
Paulley's treatment, the Corrections Department denied him that
opportunity, saying that he did not meet the prison's medical
guidelines for drug therapy. Rubin, in turn, argued that the
Corrections Department was using those guidelines as a pretext for
denying all prisoners treatment for HCV for fear of the costs
involved.

In March, Federal Judge John Heyburn II agreed, and issued an
injunction ordering the prison to allow Paulley to be treated.

"Money, not medicine, was the driving force behind the department's
decision," wrote Magistrate Judge C. Cleveland Gambill in his
findings to Judge Heyburn.

Warden Larry Chandler's office did not respond to a request for an
interview.

Where Did I Get That?

"Prisoners have a moral and legal right to medical care," says Dr.
Bennett, who specializes in treating hepatitis in Louisville, and who
advocates that all prisoners, as a first step, should be tested for
HCV infection and told of their status.

In the Luther Luckett Correctional Facility--as in most other state
prisons in the country--no formal prevention or peer education
program specifically geared toward HCV currently exists.

Interviewed by phone from prison, Anthony Ware explains that he only
discovered his HCV status after going through the state's Open
Records Act and paying for copies of all of his lab work.

"There it was: hepatitis C," says Ware. "I thought, 'Oh my God, where
did I get that?"

That situation, says Judy Greenspan of the prisoner's advocate group,
California Prison Focus (CPF), is being seen in some of California's
prisons as well.

"Mostly, we've found that when prisoners have tested [positive for
HCV], they haven't been told," says Greenspan. "People find out, for
instance, when they're told they're not eligible for a job in the
kitchen because they have hepatitis. That's the first they hear that
they even took the test. Obviously, they're doing some sort of
routine screening, somewhere. But most people are not being informed
of their status."

Terry Thornton, Communications Director for the California Department
of Corrections, explains that inmates are medically evaluated upon
entry to the CDC, and may request medical attention when they have
health questions or concerns. "Hepatitis testing is done when
medically appropriate as indicated by history, physical examination,
laboratory testing showing abnormalities, or by inmate request," she
explains.

The California state prison system is, in fact, one of the few that
has taken the initiative of completing a comprehensive study of how
prevalent HCV is in the prison population. A March 1996 research
study, completed in cooperation with the California Department of
Health Services, demonstrated that the rates of infection among
incoming inmates were 54.5 percent for women, and 39.4 percent for
men. Among HIV-positive men, 61.3 percent were found to be co-
infected with HCV, while HIV-positive women were found to have an
astounding 85 percent co-infection rate with HCV.

But treatment for HCV is available in California state prisons,
answers Thornton, and includes treatment for those who are co-
infected with HIV. "Inmates are treated on a case-by-case basis," she
says. "We treat patients for hepatitis C if they have otherwise
healthy medical parameters and continue to do well while on the
hepatitis medications. Many have successfully completed such therapy."

Peer education programs are continuing to expand, she adds. "The key
here is to educate, working toward elimination of the source for
disease transmission."

But budgetary restrictions are likely to prevent the implementation
of more widespread treatment. In fiscal year 99/00, the Department of
Corrections was funded only $325,000 to provide drug treatment. By
the Department's own estimates, it costs $12,000-$20,000 per year,
per patient, to treat HCV. Even on the low end of that scale, only 27
inmates would be eligible for a full course of drug treatment, out of
a current state prison population of over 161,000 men and women.

Greenspan worries that more prisoners will die behind bars in the
interim. "The tragedy about the hepatitis C epidemic is that we're
finding out about it in the sundown years of the AIDS activist
movement," says Greenspan. "The mass activism [around HIV] has faded,
and trying to get people motivated about this issue is difficult
because most people infected [with HCV] have a history of injection
drug use, are mostly poor people of color, and people who are in
prison." *****

"For many people who are in an out of the prison system, the only
time they access medical care is on the inside. That's their
reality," adds Greenspan. "If the system doesn't want to provide
medical care, then they shouldn't lock up so many people."

Walker, of the ACLU's National Prison Project, insists that Americans
have to begin thinking of prisons "as part of the community," on both
humanitarian and public health grounds.

"The majority of people are not in there for extreme, violent
crimes," she says. "The majority are in there for non-violent crimes,
doing time for five, ten or 15 years. These are people who are going
to be returning to our communities. Do we want people coming back out
sicker than they were when they went in?" [ L i P ]

EMAIL THIS ARTICLE TO A FRIEND. CLICK HERE.

Reproduction of material from any LiP pages without written
permission is strictly prohibited | Copyright 2002 LiPmagazine.org |
info@lipmagazine.org



----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Author: Silja J.A. Talvi is a Seattle-based journalist who frequently
reports on prison and criminal justice issues. Different versions of
this story have appeared in High Times and Prison Legal News.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
L i P : Media Dissidence & Uncivil Discourse Since 1996
http://www.lipmagazine.org
info@lipmagazine.org

Our organization, ...And Justice For All, is working with 2 lawyer practices who have filed a class action suit against the NJ DOC and CMS on behalf of all NJ prisoners who have Hep C, may be at risk but not tested or monitored for the infection and those discharged without being notified of their HCV infection....in other words, a very large class!!! AJFA has been monitoring the status of HCV in NJ prisons for several years now, well before legal intervention. We have started a bi-monthly publication called the "Liver List" which provides timely and useful information that is specific to incarcerated persons with HCV. The concept for the List came at the request of some NJ prisoners who wanted accurate and "free from agenda" information and also wanted to share this info. with other prisoners. If you know of a NJ prisoner who may want to receive this publication or know anyone else [yourself included]that would be interested, please PM me with mailing information.
Also, if you know anyone who is interested in getting info. about the class action suit, also please PM me.

New Study Shows Combination of Minimally Invasive Treatments as Effective as Surgery for Solitary Liver Cancers

Interventional Radiology Technique Easier on Patients; Doesn't Affect Healthy Tissue

PHOENIX, March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Results of a new study show that combining two minimally invasive interventional radiology treatments for liver cancer is as effective as surgery for treating single tumors up to 7cm in diameter, according to data presented today at the 29th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology. The treatment combines embolization, blocking the blood supply to the tumor, with radiofrequency ablation, killing the tumor with heat. This combination is effective at treating solitary hepatocellular carcinoma lesions up to seven centimeters and affords patients survival benefits on par with surgical resection, but without the trauma. The minimally-invasive interventional treatment targets only the tumor tissue, and spares the healthy tissue. In addition to equally effective, it also offers an easier and much quicker recovery than surgery.

"This new treatment takes two well-established interventional radiology procedures and combines them to optimize treatment for patients with primary liver cancer. Although surgical resection has historically been considered the gold standard for the treatment of patients with single lesions, the survival data is promising, and we remain cautiously optimistic that these results will hold up in the long-term," says study investigator Anne M. Covey, MD, an interventional radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Primary liver cancer most commonly occurs in the setting of underlying liver disease or cirrhosis due to hepatitis. Currently surgery offers the best chance for a cure. However, patients with primary liver cancer often present with other medical problems or liver disease that make surgery very risky. In fact, surgical resection is possible in less than 20% of cases, making alternative therapies imperative. Chemotherapy drugs are generally inactive against primary liver cancer.

"Although more studies are needed, this study is significant because it compares the combined interventional radiology techniques to surgical resection within a tertiary care facility with equal experience in tumor embolization and surgery, broadening the applicability of the interventional techniques in the treatment of primary liver cancer. A multi-disciplinary approach is imperative," says Covey.

About the Study

This study included all patients with solitary hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing either surgical resection or embolization followed by radiofrequency (RF) ablation between January 1996 and August 2002. Only patients with liver tumors less than 7 cm were included. The study involved 40 patients who had surgical resection and 33 who had embolization plus ablation. There were significantly more patients with more advanced liver disease (Okuda stage II) in the embolization group compared to the surgery group (36 percent versus 0 percent). The median follow-up was 22 months for the embolization group and 23 months for the surgery group. The 1,2, 4 and 5 year survivals for the combined treatment were 97%, 83%, 77% and 56% versus 81%, 70%, 70% and 57% for the surgery group.

Of the 19 surgical patients that had recurrence of their tumor, seven subsequently underwent embolization in order to attempt to prolong survival. Quite notably, despite the advanced stage of the liver tumors, four out of these 7 are currently alive with no evidence of active disease at 12, 16, 19 and 30 months from the date of recurrence, 2 are currently alive with disease and remain candidates for further embolization and/or ablation. "The majority of the patients who have surgery will have recurrence of their cancer, because they still have cirrhosis and hepatitis. Repeat surgery is often not possible, so finding another way to treat them is important," says Covey.

this is good to know. thank you!

Growing Number of Patients With Advanced Liver Disease Will Take the Hepatitis C Virus Drug Market to $10 Billion In 2013

Experts Disagree About Which Patients Are Best Suited For Treatment, According

to a New Study from Decision Resources

WALTHAM, Mass., April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Resources, Inc., one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and health care issues, finds that the growing number of patients with advanced liver disease will fuel a rise of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) market to $10 billion in 2013. HCV disease burden is expected to rise during the next ten years because of a maturing HCV population that has been infected for more than 20 years, the amount of time it takes for morbidity from HCV to emerge.

The new Pharmacor study entitled Hepatitis C Virus also finds that experts disagree about which patients are best suited for treatment given that HCV does not place all infected persons at risk of significant morbidity or mortality.

"Some experts contend that the goal of anti-HCV therapy is to prevent cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma," says Jason LaBonte, Ph.D., analyst at Decision Resources. "Based on these criteria, patients with normal serum ALT levels and who therefore are not at risk of advanced liver disease do not require treatment. These experts also maintain that the safety and efficacy of current therapies is not sufficient to warrant treatment in this patient group. Other experts believe that patients with mild disease are more likey to respond to current therapies, and they say that the prevention of HCV transmission, improvement in quality of life, and improvement of symptoms are important considerations when determining whether or not to treat patients with normal serum ALT levels."

About Pharmacor from Decision Resources

Pharmacor is a unique family of studies that assesses a host of market- impacting factors and analyzes the commercial outlook for drugs in research and development.

About Decision Resources

Decision Resources, Inc., (www.decisionresources.com) is a world leader in research publications, advisory services, and consulting designed to help clients shape strategy, allocate resources, and master their chosen markets.

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

For more information, contact:

Elizabeth Marshall

Decision Resources, Inc.

781-296-2563

emarshall@dresources.com

Source: Decision Resources, Inc.

UNITE WITH MEMBERS FROM ACROSS NORTH AMERICA TO BRING AWARENESS TO CAPITOL HILL.

REQUEST FOR COVERAGE
June 4, 2004

Contact: Hepatitis C Movement for Awareness Press Office, 540-248-7324
Tricia Lupole or Ed Wendt, Communications, 832 628 7999


ON THURSDAY, JUNE 10, FAMILIES WILL LAUNCH THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO SAVE LIVES BY HONORING REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE FOR HER COMMITMENT TO AWARENESS.


Washington, DC - North American families and others will gather June 10-12, 2004 in the silhouette of the Capitol in Washington, DC. Members will come to demand federal legislators actively and realistically address the Hepatitis C epidemic.

Hepatitis C (HCV) is a blood borne virus that infects over 5.8 million Americans. HCV is the number one epidemic in the world. It is the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States and it infects almost 300 million people worldwide. Based on National Institutes of Health (NIH) statistics, 30 percent of middle age adults with infections over 20 years are expected to develop end stage liver disease (1.8 million).

When end stage failure occurs, the patient's only hope is a liver transplant. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, the organ donation and transplantation division state, only 5,000 livers are available each year, leaving the majority on that list with no options for life. There is no cure and no vaccine. The few available treatments that exist do not work for most people. Standard treatment is lengthy, expensive, and debilitating. Early detection, through testing is essential, so patients can take dietary preventive measures shown to extend lives.

The HCV epidemic is the consequences of a tragedy within the nation's supply of blood. In 1988, 242,000 HCV infections were reported annually. These high figures were reported throughout the 1980s. Since 1989, when heating or washing of blood products became mandatory, the annual number of new infections declined more than 80 percent by 1998. This follows more efficient testing procedures for donors with tests that existed, but manufacturing patents and FDA delays prevented distribution.

Government, at all levels in the United States is doing far too little to combat HCV. Conservative estimates place the costs of lost productivity and medical care arising from chronic infection, at over one billion dollars annually. Such costs are expected to increase in the absence of expanded prevention and treatment efforts that are still not forthcoming by the Center for Disease Control.

In response to lack of efforts for awareness, the Hepatitis C Movement for Awareness (HMA) is actively supporting Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's, (D-Houston), request for a Government Accounting Office investigation into the HCV epidemic. In recognition of her efforts, the Movement will present Rep. Lee an award for her outstanding commitment to Hepatitis C Awareness, Thursday, June 10, during a scheduled press conference.


Current legislation, Senate bill S-1143, congressional version H.R.3539, "The Hepatitis C Prevention Act", merely places a bandage on the epidemic. The Movement's concern centers much on the prevention policy laid forth by the Centers for Disease Control in the "Hepatitis C Strategy Plan for Treatment and Prevention". The plan fails to address all transmission methods for the virus. It is little benefit to the general public and certainly will not stop the spread of HCV. Although not a sexually transmitted disease, HCV is slated beneath the Sexually Transmitted Disease branch for prevention. HCV funding and prevention measures are placed under the HIV/AIDS division. The bill is the final process making it a federally mandated reality. Additionally, recent studies show methods for preventing HIV do not work for Hepatitis C. The prevention measures in the plan addresses very few people infected prior to cleaning up the blood supply and putting safe practices for medical personnel, patients, and procedures into place.

Another concern is the lookback program developed in the late 1990's and designed to identify recipients of tainted blood. It sits idle from lack of funding and funding has not been provided in the current Acts. Investigative journalists, Karen Dillon and Mike McGraw with the Kansas City Star, confirmed information showing the Red Cross and others conspired to prevent testing of donors as early as 1980, six years earlier than assumed. This adds as many as half a million more to a list of hundreds of thousands we can identify. The Movement will present Secretary Tommy Thompson, Secretary of Health and Human Services, a complete report, with copies of communications showing the conspiracies to delay testing, and demanding action be taken immediately to find these people and get them help

The average age for HCV patients is 53 years old and only 20% of all patients, know they have it. Four million others do not have a clue. Lifestyle and dietary measures can make the difference between life and death. This is why it is so important that people with this disease are told. Not all patients will qualify for current treatment protocols, and many will not want to try it now. However, certainly everyone should know the risks involved so they can make informed decisions and stop the spread of the virus to others.


HMA also wants language in S-1143/ H.R.3539.IH to require "annual audits and strict background checks" of groups and organizations, especially 501c3 tax exempt groups, that receive grants and funding from the Act. We do not think that is too much to ask, given the fraud and favoritism documented by congressional investigations within HIV/AIDS programs and the National Institutes of Health grant process. As shown in the November 10, 2003 House Committee on Energy and Commerce report. W.J. "Billy" Tauzin, Chairman of the committee, reported certain institutions and/or individuals personally favored by high-ranking NIH officials win the awards.

I have been trying to get my husband to at least go and get vaccinated against Hep B and Hep A since he is Hep C positive. On his I-60 requests they state that they no longer vaccinate against these 2 diseases. In his first request they told him that he could not get vaccinated against them if he was already Hep C positive. As a nurse and a Hep C patient who completed treatment I know that if he is not vaccinated against Hep A and Hep B and catches either one he will die. Anyone will. This is a serious matter. The state health department pays for these vaccines and vaccinates the general public. Does anyone know if this is actual policy or them just trying to scrimp with the budget again?

i am bumping this up for more valid and reliable information..

be safe
and take care
francis

About the Big Hep C....yeah I have had that monkey on my back for about 25 years now. And I have been in and out of the system in CA for the same amount of time. Well...I am what you would call a recovering heroin addict of 25 years now. I contracted the hepatitus c and b from dirty needles.

On a brighter note. I have been clean and sober for nine years now. And recently I got tested for the hep c and b. And I don't have the b anymore but I still have traces of the big C. Well that is encouraging. And did learn that it is possible to reverse the virus. My enzyme levels are starting to drop. That is good news. Why????? Becuz....instead of sticking a dirty needle in my arm, now I am into health food, herbs, vitamins, pure water, wheatgrass juice, pilates, yoga, weight lifting, calisthenics, hiking and anything else that I may discover is good for you. :thumbsup: I believe that the key here is that even though I had the virus a long time I caught it right before it turned into cirrhossis of the liver. Believe it or not at 45, I look healthier now than straight people that never used drugs. I think a large part is what you eat. Stop all the junk food, smoking, drugs and pharmaceuticals. Doctors don't care or know about the natural healing. They want you to take presciption drugs becuz the companies pay them to influence us to take them. If you have Hep. C. please start taking the herbs for them. I started by picking the Dandelions in prison and making tea out of them. My bunkie thought I was crazy. :D But I knew what I was doing. There are Chinese herbs that are even stronger and beneficial you buy them at healthfood stores or chinese. They are called Liver Energy Plus and stress liver plus. Also milkthistle is good. Good luck to you all with your health. Never give up hope that you will get better. Also a lil faith goes a long way in your recovery. :yay:

Hi Bravehart11, Congrats on being clean for 9 yrs and also on the improvment of your health. Welcome to PTO and hope to see you here often.

Congratulations!!! Nine Years is a long time. Sounds like you have done a great job turning things around. Keep up the good work!

SCOTLAND GIVES CLEAN SYRINGES TO PRISONERS

United Press International

10-17-2004

Scotland gives clean syringes to prisoners

GLASGOW, Scotland, Oct 17, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Scottish prison officials will give heroin injection kits to prisoners to fight the spread of disease, The Scotsman reported Sunday.

But opponents say the no-questions-asked plan is the ultimate surrender in the war on drugs.

Prison health officials concede the drug problem is so bad they have no choice but to help convicts to use highly addictive narcotics safely, even if that means tolerating law breaking.

"Prisoners are not meant to have drugs, to be buying, selling or sharing them," said Dr. Andrew Fraser, head of healthcare for the Scottish Prison Service. "But we are very worried about Hepatitis C and we know people are catching Hepatitis C in prison."

Scottish Conservative justice spokeswoman Annabel Goldie said she was shocked at the policy.

"The public will find it a ludicrous situation that those sent to jail for committing crimes and taking drugs are helped to take more drugs when they get there," Goldie said.

Maxie Richards, who runs an abstinence-based rehabilitation program in Glasgow, said Scotland's harm-reduction strategy has been a disaster.

"We are living with the mess caused by harm reduction," Richards said. "If it had worked we would not have had this explosion in drug deaths and drug crime."


Copyright 2004 United Press International (via Comtex). All rights reserved

Hi Francis
I received some advice from another PTO member who suggested that I should have a Hep C shot before I go in for my five years? Any advice?
BB

Busy,

there is no such thing as a vaccine for hep c...
we all wish!!!!!

prevention, precaution..is the only solution...

do no share toothbrushes
do not share needle, works
do not share nail clippers
make sure any blood spills is immediately reported cleaned and sanatized...
dirty needle pricks...
rough sex...due to cuts...but, must be on both partners..
stay away from open soars, near any cuts you may have...

hep c is passed blood to blood..
not blood on skin
not through saliva
not through other bodily fluids
not by eatiing off someone else's plate..

of course, i am sure while in prison..you will be extra careful with hygeine...since, you really have no idea what infections people have...

there is a high rate of hep c in prison..due to dis-information..and lack of education and awareness...

i did receive a vaccine for hep b...

i will check if there is one for hep a..i can't remember, suddenly..

much peace and love francis

:D Thx Francis
Did not mean to sound ignorant, but I sure am glad you told me this before I called the Docs office to make an appointment!!!
Let me know about any other mediacal stuff if you think it may be relevant to a 47 year old healthy woman about to go inside for afiver LOL
BB:D

She might have meant the hep B vaccine. ask your doctor at your visit if you remember.

I would ask your doctor about hep a and hep b vaccine...
busy...most people know very little about hep c, even some docs..although, things are improving on awareness, prevention...and treatment!

sorry you are doing 5...
francis

Attached is the latest edition of the Liver List, a quarterly publication dedicated to providing up-to-date and accurate information about HCV that is specific to the prison population and their loved ones.
Please feel free to share any feedback or questions you have!!!

Opps, I didn't attach the newsletter in the previous post...here it is, really!!!

thanks for the info Francis! you are wonderful. :)

Most times you can go to your local Health Department and get the Hep B vaccine. I would just call them.

Have an awesome day!

Hep B vaccines are very expensive. Sometimes people under the age of 18 can get them free through the health dept. or other places if the program is being offered. I know a lady who's daughter got them through her high school. Although the Hep B vaccine doesn't protect any other form, I think it's important to get it. Also, If you are employed in the medical field, your employer has to offer it to you at no cost.
And about Hep C, I know as an IV drug addict, if you don't fully clean out your needles and reuse them, you can infect yourself, it's not just about sharing them.

Does anyone know or has anyone filed a class action lawsuit against Correction Services Provincial for HEP C that is NON transfusion related?

I was in the prison system years ago ( early 80's) and they made us share razors.......henceforth I contracted HEP C from this and due to their negligence......does anyone have any ideas that could help me? I am in Ontario Canada which is where it will need to be filed. My computer may be cut off soon so I would like to leave a phone number that people can call should I lose my internet connection. 905-529-7119 Hamilton Ontario Canada.
Thanks to all of you.:wave: Perry.

Aethlon Scientist to Present Strategy for Treating Drug Resistant HIV and Hepatitis-C

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)----Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTCBB:AEMD) announced that its Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Richard Tullis will present today at the 25th Annual Dialysis Conference, being held at the Tampa Convention Center. The presentation is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. EST. Dr. Tullis will discuss how the multi-pathogen, multi-strain clearance characteristics of the Aethlon Hemopurifier(TM) could provide new hope for individuals afflicted with drug or vaccine resistant viral infections, including HIV, the AIDS virus, and Hepatitis-C. Dr. Tullis will also provide an update on the development of the Hemopurifier(TM) as a countermeasure against Biological Weapon candidates.

About Aethlon Medical

Aethlon Medical is pioneering the development of viral filtration devices to treat HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis-C (HCV), and pathogens that are mass casualty biological warfare candidates. Each treatment application employs the use of a proprietary technology known as the Hemopurifier(TM), which is designed to rapidly reduce the presence of infectious disease and toxins in the body. The Hemopurifier converges the established scientific principals of affinity chromatography and hemodialysis as a means to augment the immune response of clearing viruses and toxins from the blood before cell and organ infection can occur. More information on Aethlon Medical and the Hemopurifier technology is available at www.aethlonmedical.com.

Certain of the statements herein may be forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Aethlon Medical, Inc. to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the Company's ability to raise capital when needed, the Company's ability to complete the development of its planned products, the ability of the Company to obtain FDA and other regulatory approvals permitting the sale of its products, the Company's ability to manufacture its products and provide its services, the impact of government regulations, patent protection on the Company's proprietary technology, product liability exposure, uncertainty of market acceptance, competition, technological change, and other risk factors. In such instances, actual results could differ materially as a result of a variety of factors, including the risks associated with the effect of changing economic conditions and other risk factors detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Aethlon Medical, Inc. James A. Joyce, 858-459-7800 x301 jj@aethlonmedical.com or Investor Awareness, Inc. Tony Schor, 847-945-2222 info@investorawareness.com

Good luck. You would have to prove that sharing razors was THE point of contact. They however, have to prove nothing. The Department of Corrections has very deep pockets and can either out wait you or drown your legal people in paper. They could ask you ANYTHING about any aspect of your behavior and make an argument that THAT was the point of contact. They can also point out that for 10% of cases, there is no known point of contact. Sorry..but that's the real deal.

The newest edition of the "Liver List" is now available via this post. The Liver List is a quarterly publication published and distributed by ...And Justice For All, a NJ-based prisoner/family advocacy organization. Although there is some information specific to NJ, most of the 8-page publication is applicable to anyone.

In this issue:
Dispelling the Myths About HCV
NJ Class Action Suit Update
Questions to Ask Your HC Provider
HCV in the News
HIV & HCV Co-Infection
Why Treat Prisoners with HCV
Strategies for HCV Management
Back to Basics: HCV 101
Letter to Hour Health Loved Ones

To open the file and get a copy of the publication just click on the attachment to this post.
You need to have Adobe Reader 6.0 or higher to open the file. You can get the reader free by going to www.adobe.com and click on the "Get Reader" icon.

My computer wont let me open it, is there some other way ro get it? Or maybe you can print it for me and send it to my friend here in WA State? They have given him 5 weeks of treatment and disconutiuned it for emotional reasons of depression. He is looking to do a lawsuit here.

Sorry you experienced problems opening the file.

PM me your name/address and/or name/address of your incarcerated loved one and copies will be mailed out to you.

:thumbsup: "Hep C Aware" The Internet Telethon


Raising Awareness of Hepatitis C

Saturday May 14 noon-8pm LIVE

Log on to www.HepCAware.org (http://www.hepcaware.org/) or www.Alternative.nu (http://www.alternative.nu/)

Featuring Gene Butler, Che Zuro, Kat Parsons, Corday, The Willies, Slim Chance, Gilli Moon, Clementine, Nina Jo, Simply Complex, Tee-M, Susan Laurenzi, Marina V, Deb Pasternak, Gwen Cardenas and Kin, Steve Pierson, Amilia Spicer, Ballentine, Throwing Toasters and Kelly's Lot. Also featuring comedians Steve Bruner, Lord Carrett, Matt Iseman, Chris Strait, Dean Evans, Willis Turner,Pat Loborio, Kira Soltanovich and Courtney Cronin. PLUS! The world premiere of "Silence is Deadly - Living With Hepatitis C"

All donations will go to Hepatitis C Awareness, Inc

After losing a close friend to Hepatitis C in 2001, Kelly Zirbes and her band Kelly's Lot began a four year campaign offering Hep C information at all their shows. Wanting to reach more people, Kelly put out a call to other musicians across the country to help raise awareness on a national level by distributing information about Hep C. The response was astounding and led to the founding of HepatitisCAware.org. A postcard was designed for the campaign and grass roots movement began, which has now grown into a national coalition of musicians and street teams working together to raise awareness of this deadly disease. This year's Internet telethon, the organization's second such event, takes place on Saturday, May 14 from noon-8pm PST. The 2nd annual telethon will air LIVE at www.HepCaware.org (http://www.hepcaware.org/) or www.alternative.nu (http://www.alternative.nu/). Featuring music, comedy and lots of info about Hepatitis C, the telethon will raise funds for Hepatitis C Awareness, Inc. to support the organization's national campaign.

For more info or an interview contact:
Kelly Zirbes
(818)769-2701
HepatitisCAware@aol.com (HepatitisCAware@aol.com)
www.HepCAware.org (http://www.hepcaware.org/).

Hello PTO Friends. I would like to pass this along, (quoted from another forum that is not prison related) - as I believe the goal here is mutual...

Thanks guys...
Scryer

~~ A friend of mine, from another forum ~~

Hey everyone Terry Martin here -
I need your help in getting funding for a very nasty disease that I have.... It is called Hepititis C and it is crucial that they find a cure. I am coming forward because there is an incredible lack of research for this disease that I contracted during Vietnam while stationed in the Navy. It was given to me by air gun injectors for vaccines for overseas diseases . Instead of the diseases, 85% of all the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corp that were on duty during the vietnam war have Hepatitis C....

This disease takes 30 years before you start to feel the effects of this Nasty little Virus......and I can tell you from experience it is no fun at all.

So please click on this link below and sign this petition for funding. I can just bet that almost all of you know someone with this disease and we need your help we need 5,000 signatures and right now only have 106....please HELP..... Your friend and Dj, Terry Martin

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/768659402?ts=1102716563&sign (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/768659402?ts=1102716563&sign)
_________________
Terry Martin (http://www.songplanet.com/terrymartin)
DJ Terry Martin Schedule (http://www.songplanet.com/artists/bands/930/)
StormSurge Recording Studio (http://stormsurge.quantum.2ya.com/)


(To admin - I apologize if I should have posted this in the 'prison petitions' area, instead,I wan't sure - but thought it was more pertinent to the 'Hepititis' readers, as it isn't neccessarily prison related...
please do forgive me for being a pain in the butt, (again:D )and feel free to move it, if I am wrong...?)

thanks

Why We March on DC for Awareness


Hepatitis C (HCV) is labeled the "Silent Killer" because many have no recognizable symptoms for years. HCV is also listed as one of the top five diseases missed by medical professionals. Of middle aged adults, 2.3% of the population is infected with this virus. Of these patients, 30% will develop cirrhosis, leading to liver cancer.(1)


In the early stages of infection, most patients usually report a history of fatigue and malaise although the liver and other body systems/organs begin to fail. HCV is usually diagnosed only when irreversible liver damage (cirrhosis) is established. Yet, the best outcomes for HCV patients depend upon early recognition of the infection.


HCV infects all races, genders, and across all socioeconomic backgrounds. Young women, average age 24 years old, are the fastest growing segment currently being diagnosed with HCV. This is not all due to drug use, but due to lack of understanding the transmission methods for this virus.(2)


Hepatitis C will transmits from Mother to Child during birth, in every one out of three cases.(3)


Though the infection rate is at epidemic proportions, only a mere 20% are aware of their HCV positive status. Unlike Hepatitis A and B, there is currently no vaccine for the prevention of the Hepatitis C Virus, the most deadly of the Hepatitis family. (4)


Current treatment options are difficult to tolerate and success rates average 40% or so, for most people. Military veterans, attending Veterans Administration Clinics, are helped only 17.2% of the time. (5)


These are shameful statistics for our defenders of freedom.


Research is needed for safer and more effective treatment options. Treatment must be made available to all, including those who do not have health insurance and veterans, left to the mercy of the Veterans Administration for care.



Our government is doing far too little to educate the public about HCV. Programs on methods of transmission must be instituted in schools, at all grade levels, prisons, detention facilities and psychiatric hospitals.


HMA is dedicated to educating the public of this often fatal disease.


We will march for awareness so HCV issues are made public and in hopes that our government will take much needed measures to stop the spread of this insidious virus, and do so in a fair, safe, and timely manner.


Our "Weekend of Awareness" provides us with the opportunity to reach millions of people otherwise left to the inadequacies of a failed governmental system for prevention.


Please help us educate this Nation and stop the spread of HCV.
Visit This Site for the latest updates.





Contact:

Hepatitis C Movement for Awareness

110 Glover Circle

Staunton, VA 24401

Phone: 540/248-7324

E-mail: HMAwareness@aol.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

References:

1. NIH Consensus Statements Management of Hepatitis C: 2002 June 10-12, 2002 Vol. 19, No. 1 FINAL STATEMENT August 27,2002 HCV is the most common chronic blood-borne infection develop cirrhosis 20 years after initial infection as high as 20 to 30 percent in middle-aged subjects......Of middle aged adults, 2.3% of the population is infected with this virus http://consensus.nih.gov/cons/116/116cdc_intro.htm

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease Twenty percent of patients develop cirrhosis within 10 to 20 years of the onset of infection Liver failure from chronic hepatitis C is one of the most common reasons for liver transplants in the United States. Hepatitis C is the cause of about half of cases of primary liver cancer in the developed world. http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/chrnhepc/chrnhepc.htm

(K70,K73–K74) National Vital Statistics Vol 49 No 11 Deaths: Leading Causes for 1999- by Robert N. Anderson, Ph.D. Division of Vital Statistics Table 1 page 15 all races and both sexes, ages 25–34 years is the tenth leading causes of death. For age 45–54, the sixth leading cause of death
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr49/nvsr49_11.pdf

2. May 1, 2002, issue of Substance Use & Misuse, may indicate that use of drugs is not the only risk factor for HCV.

3. Paediatric HIV Service, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
The authors conclude, “These results suggest that at least one third and up to a half of infected children acquired infection in utero.

J Mok and others (for the European Paediatric Hepatitis C Virus Network). When does mother to child transmission of hepatitis C virus occur? Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 90(2): F156-160. March 2005.

4.Arthur Caplan, Ph.D. the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability states
"The main reason for the drastic increase in severe hepatitis C-related liver disease--that means leading to transplant, leading to death--is that 90 percent of people with chronic hepatitis C don't know they have it." http://www.hhs.gov/bloodsafety/transcripts/nov24_98.html

The American Liver foundation states- As many as 70% of those infected don’t know it http://www.liverfoundation.org/db/articles/1007

Because most persons with chronic HCV infection have yet to be diagnosed http://consensus.nih.gov/cons/116/091202116cdc_statement.htm
5. VA Study A comparison of hepatitis C treatment and outcomes at academic, private and Veterans' Affairs treatment centres D. M. Jensen*, S. J. Cotler*, H. Lam, G. Harb & A. Shillington§ .... End-of-treatment viral response for Veterans' Affairs centers, 17.2%http://hcvets.com/data/hcv_liver/va_clear_rate.htm

HCV Stats • census update times 2 % infection rate for the general public

signed and am happy to do so!

MAY IS NATIONAL HEPATITIS AWARENESS MONTH!

This is your chance to really *make a difference* Please take 2 minutes out of your busy day and log onto the link below and educate your Senator about Hepatitis C! I am attaching a flyer that you can use at your local support groups. If you are unable to open the flyer you can utilize the text below. Please PASS THIS ON to anyone and everyone you know that is concerned about Hepatitis C.

Dear Community members,

The Hepatitis C Epidemic Control and Prevention Act has been reintroduced in both the United States Senate (S.521) and the United States House of Representatives (HR 1290) in the 109th Congress. Your congressional leaders need to hear from you.

The Hepatitis C Caring Ambassadors Program wants to make it easier than ever for you to communicate with your congressional leaders this year. We have developed the Hepatitis C Caring Ambassadors Program Activist Resource Center. The Resource Center is a place for the community to join together in making an impact on hepatitis C awareness, policy, and funding. With your help last year we had over 65 sponsors on the bills. This year we need to make sure the legislation is passed. We need your help. Time is running out for too many people affected by hepatitis C.

You can help change the course of the Hepatitis C Epidemic! The seriousness of the HCV epidemic and the widespread suffering it is causing must become common knowledge for this disease to be brought under control.

There is strength in numbers!

¨ We need to join our voices together so that decision makers can gain an understanding of the current hepatitis C crisis.


¨ We must let our leaders know the hepatitis C community is strong.

¨ We cannot rest until adequate resources are available to meet the needs of the millions of Americans living with chronic hepatitis C.


I encourage you to sign up today. See how easy it is to write all of your congressional leaders in less than 3 minutes.

While you are there, please take a tour of the Hepatitis C Caring Ambassadors Program Activist Resource Center to learn about the tools for change that are available for you at:

http://hepcchallenge.org/resourcecenter1.htm (http://hepcchallenge.org/resourcecenter1.htm)


Thank you for keeping up the fight.

Lorren Sandt
Hepatitis C Caring Ambassadors Program
Managing Ambassador
877-737-4372 toll-free
lorren@hepcchallenge.org (lorren@hepcchallenge.org)
Hepatitis C: Choices now on line at: www.hepcchallenge.org (http://www.hepcchallenge.org/)

"We believe strongly in the power of people working together, and that, by doing so, we will make far more significant advances than could be made by any group or discipline working on its own."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can read the Bill here:

http://hepcchallenge.org/S521.htm (http://hepcchallenge.org/S521.htm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For a copy of the flier you can email me privately at figment@nettally.com (figment@nettally.com) or log onto
http://forums.prospero.com/HepCingles/messages?msg=2431.1 (http://forums.prospero.com/HepCingles/messages?msg=2431.1)

and the download is there!

Peace and Love,
Pam

Vice President
H.E.A.L.S of North Georgia
http://www.HEALSofNGA.org (http://www.healsofnga.org/)

North Florida Chapter
http://www.HEALSofNFL.bravehost.com (http://www.healsofnfl.bravehost.com/)

Pam’s Hep C Links Page
http://www.diac.com/~ekwall2/hepchat/links.shtml (http://www.diac.com/~ekwall2/hepchat/links.shtml)

Florida Online Support Group
http://******************/group/FLHepCSupport (http://******************/group/FLHepCSupport)

Georgia Online Support Group
http://******************/group/GAHepCSupport (http://******************/group/GAHepCSupport)

Delphi HepCingles
http://forums.prospero.com/HepCingles/start (http://forums.prospero.com/HepCingles/start)

HepCNetNewsletter
http://health.******************/group/HepCnetNewsletter (http://health.******************/group/HepCnetNewsletter)

HepCNet
www.hepcnet.net (http://www.hepcnet.net/)

Member, National Hepatitis C Advocacy Council
Member, National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable
Member, Hepatitis C Appropriations Partnership
Member, Georgia Hep C Working Group

I signed in at @346 but my name did not come up :(

I am so glad to see that none of our other members have loved ones with Hep-C but maybe you all could sign this just in case your loved one does come down with it. Love Barb

I'm signing it now! I have a few loved ones with HEP C!

I am saddened and sickened to see that with over 44,000 members here at PTO that we can only get 3 people to respond to such an important issue as Hep C. I am sure that more than 3 members have a loved one or a friend suffering with this fatal disease surely you could take the time to sign a petition to help them. This is the # one disease in the prison system so if your loved one doesn’t have it now they may at any given moment. I know that we are all loving caring people here at PTO and signing this petition must have been just an oversight with all the other issues at hand. Please take a moment to help our loved ones out.

Love Barb



http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120418 (http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120418)

I agree, and I am one of the ones who "passed it up". I just signed it. Yes, it is an extremely important issue.

Lisa

i signed BSS. I didnt see this thread when i was on earlier... happy to help :wave:

Sorry have been gone a few days. I myself have hep C not my finance who is incarcerated so I can well assure you I see the importance of this. I have signed and will forward the info to others.

Just signed it. Thanks for the info and the link!

Barb, it truly was a oversight for me. And yes I do know people who have been diagnosed with this horrible disease, and I myself had a scare with Hep C & B a few years back. I have no idea what the prison statistics are, but it should be a concern for anyone who has a loved one in prison.

Thanks for the reminder
Mel

Signed

Signed!

Mel

Thank you all so much :) we have had 6 members sign in the last 30 min. :) If you have a list of people your send email to please send along this link. Love Barb
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/768659402?ts=1102716563&sign&ltl=1115947852

I signed!

An oversight on my part and I am the Forum Leader over the Petitions. Shame on me. I will go sign right now. One of our own beloved members and a very dear friend of mine is struggling with this now. I certainly will be forwarding it on after I sign it.

Thanks for bringing it to our attention. Like I said truely an oversight on my part. Ten lashes with a wet noodle.

Going there now to sign.

I didn't see this thread earlier, but I do now.
Any form of Hepatitis is scary. I know first hand. A neighbor of mine had Hep. A, and my brother sat on his lap when he played Santa at the local church and my brother had it. We lost our neighbor to the disease and nearly lost my brother and my mom.
It is scary!!!!!!!!!
My hubby to be has Hep. C, more than likely from drug use or tattoos. I love him no less, but I am cautious.
There needs to be more studies done on this disease.
I signed the petition and I will encourage others to also.

I was # 361

I think, hope!, I may be babygirl350's friend who is struggling with this--if not I am another friend of hers who is-my son has been diagnosed with this disease now for about 2 yrs.
I did not know of this petition but I just finished signing and hope you all will too.
Thank you and God Bless you all!!

Bonnie

I did it. My kids father suffers from Hep C!!! :(

I signed, I am #366

Signed... :thumbsup:

#368

I signed it....

i am 368

(Waveing) Im signing it. My dad has it and a few others I know. He got it in the service. Blood transplant.

i jut signed it

I signed.
We just had someone very dear to us die of Hep C.
I wish there was a vaccine for this. :(

I also signed. :)

I signed. My man was told by medical last Fall that he had HepC and he nearly went out of his mind. Medical called him back a couple of weeks later and told him that they told him wrong...the last name of the person with HepC started with B instead of D. He almost cried when he told me and I did cry. The information on this topic at the Orlando 2004 Conference was frightfully educating!

My kids daddy had it and my cousin had it too!

They have both since died of Overdoses! RIP....I love you guys!

BSS - See what happens when attention is brought to a petition. We can do this with all petitions you know.

Keep it going everyone.

I signed 374 just seen this post, sorry:thumbsup:

#380 checking in.

Signed Beth Ann Hodgen #377, Josh Hodgen #379 (My Husband)
I believe my mom has this. She has never talked with me about it. I hear things from other people. I believe she got it from shareing a needle. People always say how shes killing herself faster because she has it plus she is an alcohalic and only has one kidney. I dont know for sure but she has some forum of Hepititis.

Best of luck,
Beth Ann

Signed it. :)

Yea :) the petition is up to 381 please keep this going, we can do it if we try. Love Barb

I signed it too. My sister has Hep C.....

The petition is up to 381 :) please send the link to everyone you can. Love Barb

signed :)

signed

God Bless..at This Time I Don't Know Anyone With Hept.c However I Did Sign It...

I SIGNED!

I signed, I don't want my Baby to get this

I have signed and thanks for bringing this issue to our attention. #391

You guys are doing a great job :) we are up to 392 this morning. Love Barb

I signed. My son and I both have it. he cleared the virus, I relapsed.