ADVISORY/Latino and Medical Leaders to Unveil Legislative Remedy to Hepatitis A Crisis; Determine California Can No Longer Afford to Ignore this Preventable Illness.

    News Editors
    ADVISORY...for Wednesday (May 29)

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Who:        Assemblyman Dario Frommer
            Senator Martha Escutia
            Raquel Donoso, Latino Issues Forum
            Dr. Patricia Samuelson, California Medical Association
            Dr. Hector Flores, California Latino Medical Association
            Dr. David Hayes-Bautista, UCLA

When:       Wednesday, May 29, 2002
            11:30 a.m.

Where:      State Capitol -- Room 1190

What:       California's Latino and medical communities have joined
            together to address the alarming rate of Hepatitis A cases
            among certain California populations. Hepatitis A -- a
            contagious, viral infection of the liver -- is one of the
            most frequently reported vaccine-preventable diseases.
            Unlike other states at high-risk of community-wide
            outbreaks, California does not currently require Hepatitis
            A vaccines for children.

              Legislation will be unveiled to help protect vulnerable
            populations and the population at large from this
            debilitating disease.

Details:    Between 1987 and 1997, California was the single largest
            contributor to Hepatitis A cases nationwide. A recent UCLA
            study of five counties -- Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange,
            San Diego and San Bernardino -- indicate high numbers of
            Hepatitis A cases among Latino children. Other high-risk
            populations include food handlers. Hepatitis A can be life
            threatening to those with Hepatitis C, such as veterans.

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    CONTACT: Office of Assemblyman Dario Frommer
             Dan Reeves, 916/319-2043

    KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA
    INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEDICAL GOVERNMENT ADVISORY
    SOURCE: Townsend, Besler, Raimundo and Usher