Cuts to federal research funding may delay a potential hepatitis B cure, as trials led by UCSF progress. Asian Americans remain the most affected group by the disease.
Chronic Disease
Asian Americans are disproportionately affected by hepatitis B, especially by chronic infections. Years of community work have led to better outreach, and new efforts like universal screening are starting to build momentum.
Advocates say efforts to improve hepatitis B screening and data collection are chronically underfunded.
For those suffering from silicosis (mostly immigrants from Latin and Central America) — a deadly disease experienced by cutting, sanding, drilling artificial stone which can cause the inhalation of silica dust leading to the scarring of lungs — the health challenges often come hand-in-hand with a high level of emotional stress.
Glynn Simmons and Richard Phillips were exonerated after decades in prison. Their stories reflect huge disparities in who serves time in prison for crimes they did not commit.
Asthma has plagued Imperial County for decades, yet access to specialists continues to be scant. Uncontrolled asthma in the valley lands local youth in emergency rooms, more than anywhere else in the state.
In Califorina's Imperial Valley, Elsa Ordona’s sugar-free bakery helps locals manage the disease with tasty, low-carb treats, while promoting education and small lifestyle changes.
California Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos explains how her own childhood fuels her drive to raise awareness of childhood adversity and its links to poor health.
There's little discussion of the impact on fertility, and the broader lack of reproductive and sexual health care for young people living with this complex disease.