Hawaii

Hepatitis epidemic hits Hawaii harder than other states

Published

1 year ago

December 16, 2023

Hepatitis epidemic hits Hawaii harder than other states

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Viral hepatitis C is curable. Hepatitis B is treatable. Both are preventable — so, why does one U.S. state have such high rates of it?

Did you know that Hawaii has higher liver cancer mortality due to hepatitis B and C than the continental United States?

“When we look at hepatitis B, and hepatitis C specifically, we also see higher death rates of both of those compared to the continental U.S.,” says Hawaii Department of Health’s Viral Hepatitis Prevention Coordinator Thaddeus Pham. “People who die from hepatitis in Hawaii — hepatitis C specifically — can die up to 20 years earlier than residents in the rest of the state.”

That’s right. There’s a 20-year difference in life expectancy between those who contract the curable hepatitis C and those who don’t have it.

Pham and the DOH are in the middle of developing a surveillance infrastructure as part of the HepFree by 2030 campaign, which will track the spread of viral hepatitis and hopefully begin pinpointing specifics on who is contracting hepatitis and how.

Now, don’t let the word surveillance scare you. It’s not what you may think. This is a system that will allow the DOH to help those who have contracted viral hepatitis in order to get them link to care and help develop prevention strategies.

There are three types of hepatitis.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is contracted when a person comes into contact with contaminated fecal matter in their mouth. This has been seen with foods that have been the conduit that spreads hepatitis. These foods are oftentimes imported into the United States.

It is preventable with a vaccine, but some people will develop a natural immunity to it. However, if you do contract it through contaminated food, then it is important to know the source. This is one of the ways where the surveillance system that Pham is working on comes into play.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is spread in much the same way as HIV. So, from mother to child, through sexual transmission or by coming into contact with blood that is contaminated. There is no cure for hepatitis B. Pham said that is can be controlled through simple and safe medication.

So, if you get chronic hepatitis B, then you are going to take treatment to keep the virus down. But you will always have it. However, you can prevent contraction by getting vaccinated.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is spread from blood to blood. Typically, this is the hepatitis that comes along with sharing drug paraphernalia, things like needles. Although hepatitis C is curable through short, safe treatment, there is no immunity or vaccine.

The numbers

Pham provided KHON2.com with some statistics on how hepatitis is impacting Hawaii. He pointed out that because the surveillance system is still being developed, there is still much to learn from collecting data and observation.

Hepatitis B mortality rates – DOH report.
- Hawaii has higher rates than U.S. from 2000 to 2020.
  - Hawaii rate was 3 times higher than U.S. in 2019.
- Within Hawaii, higher rates among Asian and Pacific Islander (1.2 to 1.4 times) residents, compared to state average.
Liver cancer mortality rates – DOH report.
- Hawaii has higher rates than U.S. from 2000 to 2020.
- Hawaii rates increased from 2000 to 2020 with 7.96 per 100,000 to 9.41 per 100,000.
- Rates partially driven by disparities among Asian and Pacific Islander residents.
- Note: HBV and HCV are leading causes of liver cancer in Hawaii, per journal article.
HCV mortality rates – Journal article and CDC data.
- HCV is associated with up to 20 year lower life expectancy compared to the rest of the state.
- Hawaii is the state with highest proportion of NHAPI decedents among HCV-listed deaths (2016-17).

The spread of hepatitis C is why things like syringe exchanges are so important for prevention. You can visit HepFree2030 for information and resources.

Pham said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all adults, regardless of your perceived risk, be tested at least one time for both hepatitis B and C.

Source link

Related Topics:Featured hawaii Hepatitis NMW

Click to comment

Hawaii

Pacific Century Fellows focus on strengthening Hawaii-Philippines relationship with special visit

Published

7 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Pacific Century Fellows focus on strengthening Hawaii-Philippines relationship with special visit

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Members of a prestigious leadership training program from Hawaii recently traveled to the Philippines on a special visit.

Former Honolulu Mayor and current President/CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association Mufi Hannemann founded the Pacific Century Fellows Program (PCF) in 1996, modeled after the White House Fellows program to empower emerging leaders across the state to solve local challenges.

Last month, this year’s cohort of 30 business and community leaders. along with some PCF alumni, met with Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who lived in Hawaii for 5 years, when his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., was ousted following a nonviolent revolution in 1986 and exiled here.

Marcos Sr. died in Honolulu in 1989, and the family was allowed to return to the Philippines in 1991 and rebuilt their political careers.

The fellows met with various Filipino leaders and discussed ways to boost business opportunities and tourism for both destinations, including more flights to Ilocos Norte, where many Filipinos in Hawaii have roots.

The group visited Ilocos Norte at the invitation of Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc and learned about Hawaii’s strong historic ties to the region.

For more information, visit pacificcenturyfellows.com.

Source link

Hawaii

From scratch to real estate: The Indian family that built an empire in Hawaii

Published

15 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

From scratch to real estate: The Indian family that built an empire in Hawaii

In 1915, Jhamandas Watumull, a 29-year-old Indian entrepreneur, arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, to establish a retail shop for his import business. Along with his partner Dharamdas, he registered the business under the name Watumull & Dharamdas on Hotel Street. The store specialised in selling exotic Eastern goods, including silks, brassware, ivory crafts, and other unique items.

Gulab Watumull’s father, Jhamandas, began the family business in Honolulu in 1915.(Flickr)

Tragedy struck in 1916 when Dharamdas succumbed to cholera. This prompted Jhamandas to invite his brother Gobindram to manage the Honolulu store while he oversaw business operations in Manila. Over the years, the brothers travelled frequently between India and Hawaii, strengthening their enterprise, reported the BBC.

The growth of the Watumull Business

The Watumull brothers renamed the business East India Store after Gobindram took charge in Hawaii. The company grew into a department store with branches across Hawaii and parts of Asia. In 1937, Gobindram constructed the Watumull Building in Waikiki to serve as the company headquarters. By 1957, the business had expanded into a multimillion-dollar empire with 10 stores, apartments, and various commercial properties.

The East India Store played a significant role in popularising the iconic “Aloha shirt.” In 1936, Gobindram’s sister-in-law Elsie Jensen created designs featuring Hawaiian motifs like hibiscus flowers, tropical fish, and gardenias. These designs were handblocked onto silk in Japan and became commercially successful. The shirts were embraced by tourists and even Hollywood stars like Loretta Young and Lana Turner.

A shift toward real estate

As Hawaii became a global tourist destination, the Watumulls diversified their business. They purchased the Royal Hawaiian Manufacturing Company and introduced matching family Aloha wear. Over time, the company transitioned into real estate, with its last retail store closing in 2020. In 2023, Watumull Properties acquired a major marketplace spanning over 205,000 square feet.

The Watumull brothers faced significant challenges due to restrictive U.S. immigration laws. Gobindram’s wife, Ellen Jensen, lost her citizenship under the Cable Act after marrying him in 1922. She later regained it in 1931 after advocating for legal reforms. Gobindram became a U.S. citizen in 1946 following a change in naturalisation laws for Indians. Jhamandas obtained citizenship in 1961 after permanently relocating to Hawaii.

The Watumull family contributed significantly to education, arts, and Indian independence. Gobindram supported India’s freedom movement and hosted prominent leaders in his Los Angeles home. The family’s foundation sponsored lectures by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan in the U.S. and facilitated the creation of India’s first birth control clinics. They also funded numerous educational and cultural programs in Hawaii and India.

The Watumull family remains deeply rooted in Hawaii, where their name is synonymous with philanthropy and progress. JD Watumull, the current president of the family’s company, emphasised their commitment to the Hawaiian Islands, stating, “The Hawaiian Islands continue to be our family’s focus today and in the future.”

Also read: Chhattisgarh couple marries by taking an oath on Indian constitution instead of saat pheras: report

Source link

Hawaii

SafeRide Hawaii offering an alternative for impaired driving

Published

23 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

SafeRide Hawaii offering an alternative for impaired driving

HONOLULU (KHON2) — With the holidays here, drinking and driving is on the rise. SafeRide Hawaii is offering services to help impaired drivers. If you find yourself intoxicated but are worried about leaving your car behind, SafeRide Hawaii will send a driver to take you and your car home safely, while a chase driver follows […]

Source link