Rep. Stallworth offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 334.  

            A resolution to encourage Congress to enact legislation advocating for increased Hepatitis C virus awareness and testing of baby boomers.

            Whereas, Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease that affects millions of Americans. It results from infection with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is spread primarily through contact with the blood of an infected person. People infected with HCV often have no symptoms and can live for decades without feeling sick. For some people, the disease can cause serious health problems including liver damage, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer. Hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver cancer, the leading reason for liver transplants, and causes thousands of deaths each year; and

            Whereas, Adults born from 1945-1965, or baby boomers, are five times more likely to be infected with HCV than persons in other age groups. Treatments are available that can eliminate the virus from a person's blood before it causes liver damage, but the majority of infected baby boomers are unaware they are infected, so they are not getting treated. Tragically, infected individuals often do not learn they carry HCV until it has caused significant liver damage; and

            Whereas, Baby boomers make up the majority of chronic hepatitis C cases reported to the Michigan Disease Surveillance System. There were 8,005 cases of chronic hepatitis C reported in Michigan in 2012 for a rate of 81.0 cases per 100,000 people. But, case follow up and completion of epidemiological risk factors was completed for only 30% of these cases; and

            Whereas, The current risk-based screening for HCV has been ineffective in identifying latent HCV infections in baby boomers. But recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that all baby boomers be tested for HCV. The test can be completed anytime blood is drawn; laboratories check to see if the HCV antibody is present in the sample of blood. Those who test positive can receive follow up tests and information about treatment; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we encourage Congress to enact legislation advocating for increased Hepatitis C virus awareness and testing of baby boomers; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, and the Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health.