Res. No. 1313 Title Resolution calling upon the appropriate committee of the Council of the City of New York to hold public hearings on the need for additional funding to be allocated to help individuals who are afflicted with the Hepatitis C virus. Body By Council Members Espada, Freed, Henry, Linares, Lopez, Marshall, Nelson, Quinn and White; also Council Members Cruz, Fisher, Foster, Harrison, Leffler, Michels, O'Donovan and Perkins Whereas, The Latino Organization for Liver Awareness (the "LOLA") issued a Fact Sheet (the "LOLA Fact Sheet") which states that Hepatitis C Virus infection ("HCV") "is the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the United States"; and Whereas, According to the Centers for Disease Control (the "CDC") "1.8 percent of the [U.S.] population - are hepatitis C infected, most of them [are] not clinically ill, and many of them unaware [that they are infected with hepatitis C]"; and Whereas, According to a report entitled Chronic Hepatitis C: Current Disease Management (the "Chronic Hepatitis C Report") issued by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, "[t]he hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the most important causes of chronic liver disease in the United States"; and Whereas, The New York City Department of Health Hepatitis C fact sheet states that approximately 25 percent of people infected with the Hepatitis C virus will become sick with jaundice or other symptoms of Hepatitis; and Whereas, The Chronic Hepatitis C Report found that Hepatitis C causes an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 deaths annually in the United States; and Whereas, According to the Chronic Hepatitis C Report, people who are in the major high risk group for contracting Hepatitis C include: people who had blood transfusions before the introduction of sophisticated testing in 1992; people who have frequent exposure to blood products; injection drug users; infants born to HCV-infected mothers, and health care workers who suffer needle-stick accidents; and Whereas, The LOLA Fact Sheet found that "[l]atinos have more than a 40 percent greater chance of being infected with HCV that the general population in the United States"; and Whereas, The New York City Department of Health engages in a number of activities aimed at combating the threat of Hepatitis C, including; case reporting, epidemiologic investigation of deaths due to Hepatitis C, and conducting health-care provider education; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the appropriate committee of the Council of the City of New York hold public hearings on the need for additional funding to be allocated to help individuals who are afflicted with the Hepatitis C virus. H:resolution-post diane blanc second review espada hepatitis c April 10 version 5 LS- 2918