There is a virus that may affect immigrants born in Asia that can be undiscovered for years - even decades - until a cancer develops in the liver. By then, it can be fatal.
Asian Americans make up 6% of the total population in the United States, but account for 58% of the 862,000 Americans living with chronic Hepatitis B. Prevalence is also high among Pacific Islanders living in the United States.
If discovered early, it can be treated but because of cultural and institutional barriers, AANHPI often don't discover the virus until later in life.
Therein is the problem. A person can have Hepatitis B and not show any symptoms, except, perhaps, a general tiredness. Many people who don't know they have Hepatitis B often just learn to accept and consider that condition as "normal."
How is Hepatitis B spread?
Hepatitis B is spread when someone comes in contact with blood from a person who has the disease. Most people born in Asian countries who have Hepatitis B were infected as infants or young children. Hepatitis B can be passed from an infected mother to her baby at birth or from a family member to young children.
Considering that 70% of the AANHPI are first-generation immigrants, according to the US Census, and that they can inadvertently spread the virus to the next generation born in the US, it is may affect a good portion of the AANHPI population
It is important to know that Hepatitis B is not a genetic disease. People also do not get Hepatitis B from sharing meals, bowls or utensils with someone who has the disease. Hepatitis B is not spread through breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, or sneezing.
Hepatitis B disproportionately affects Asian Americans
Hepatitis B is common worldwide, especially in many parts of Asia and the Pacific Islands. In the United States, hepatitis B disproportionately affects Asian Americans. While Asian Americans make up 6% of the US population, they account for more than 60% of Americans living with hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B is serious, but treatments are available
Left untreated, nearly 1 in 4 people living with hepatitis B develop serious liver problems, even liver cancer. In fact, hepatitis B-related liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths among Asian Americans. Getting tested for hepatitis B can help many people access lifesaving treatments that can prevent serious liver damage.
2 in 3 Asian Americans with Hepatitis B don’t know they are infected
People can live with hepatitis B for decades without having any symptoms or feeling sick. hepatitis B is usually spread when someone comes into contact with blood from someone who has the virus, and many people living with hepatitis B got infected as infants or young children. Testing is the only way to know if someone has hepatitis B.
Who should get tested for Hepatitis B?
- Anyone born regions of the world where hepatitis B is common, including Asia, the Pacific Islands and Africa
- Anyone born in the United States, who was not vaccinated at birth, and has at least one parent born in regions of the world with high rate of hepatitis B, including East or Southeast Asia the Pacific Islands (except New Zealand and Australia) and Sub-Saharan Africa
- Hepatitis B testing identifies people living with hepatitis B so they can get medical care to help prevent serious liver damage. Talk to a doctor about getting tested for Hepatitis B.
What should be done when a family member has Hepatitis B?
Doctors will want to test all family members of people with Hepatitis B. This includes adults and children living in the same house. The test involves a simple blood test that takes only a small amount of blood from a person’s arm. Testing family members is important. Family members who have Hepatitis B should get medical treatment. Other family members who do not have the disease should get the Hepatitis B vaccine. This protects them from getting the disease.
Hepatitis B test results will be kept confidential. People with Hepatitis B cannot be forced to leave the United States. They also cannot be fired from a job, or forced to leave school.
CDC has developed resources, such as fact sheets and community mobilization toolkits, to help educate people born in these countries about the importance of hepatitis B testing.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.
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