CDPH Hepatitis Prevention Plan

[Admin]

California Adult Viral Hepatitis Prevention Strategic Plan

CDPH announces the release of the first ever California Adult Viral Hepatitis Prevention Strategic Plan. The Plan highlights the significant and costly public health problem of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in California and outlines strategies for preventing HBV and HCV transmission and reducing HBV-and-HCV related liver disease and death. It represents an important first step for the State of California.

Key Highlights of the Plan:

1) Improving surveillance and data use

The Plan calls for generating better surveillance reports at the local and statewide level to develop an accurate epidemiologic profile of adult viral hepatitis in California.

2) Educating the public, providers, and policymakers

The Plan calls for a) improving clinicians’ knowledge and adherence to viral hepatitis screening, vaccination, and treatment guidelines; b) improving viral hepatitis awareness among the public, social service providers, and healthcare professionals who serve people at risk; and c) improving awareness of what resources are available for viral hepatitis screening, vaccination, social support, and linkages to care.

3) Targeting and integrating services and building infrastructure

The Plan calls for increasing viral hepatitis testing, vaccination, and prevention services in settings serving at-risk adults, such as community health centers; pharmacies; HIV and STD clinics; mental health and drug treatment programs; prisons and jails; and syringe access programs. The Plan is in concert with the Report of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) on Hepatitis and Liver Cancer. To retrieve the IOM report, visit the IOM Web site: http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/Hepa...-B-and-C.aspx/.

We are encouraged to work within and across organizations to use the California Adult Viral Hepatitis Prevention Strategic Plan and the IOM report to guide efforts to increase viral hepatitis awareness among the public, providers, and policymakers, and to improve access to viral hepatitis services in California.

For more information or tech assistance with implementing to plan please contact:
Rachel McLean, MPH
Adult Viral Hepatitis Prevention Coordinator
STD Control Branch
California Department of Public Health
Phone: (510) 620-3403
Email: Rachel.McLean@cdph.ca.gov

To reference the 58 page plan: go to www.cdph.ca.gov and search Adult Viral Hepatitis.