{"id":12879,"date":"2019-12-20T16:26:20","date_gmt":"2019-12-20T21:26:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=12879"},"modified":"2019-12-20T16:26:20","modified_gmt":"2019-12-20T21:26:20","slug":"wny-raising-awareness-of-hepatitis-c-testing-this-holiday-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2019\/12\/20\/wny-raising-awareness-of-hepatitis-c-testing-this-holiday-season\/","title":{"rendered":"WNY\/Raising awareness of hepatitis C testing this holiday season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Genesee, Orleans & Wyoming Public Health Column<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Press release<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To increase awareness about Hepatitis C, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments are donating socks to Tammi Bale who operates the \u201cJust Socks, Ma\u201d Campaign, collecting socks to donate to those in need in memory of her son Robert Bale who passed away of a drug overdose in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese socks read #NYCuresHepCand is a reminder to get tested and that a cure is available to those who need it. It\u2019s a small way to give back to the community this holiday season and increase a valuable message,\u201d said Bedard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot one more is needed,\u201d stated Bale, referring to deaths caused by overdoses and hepatitis C. \u201cThis is my third year collecting socks and donating them to the homeless in memory of Robert. I wasn\u2019t able to help him because I didn\u2019t know anything was wrong(substance use disorder). He had a good job, was working 50 hours a week and had just gotten a raise. No one knew his secret, not even his roommate. It\u2019s good to try to find out what is happening in your child\u2019s life so this doesn\u2019t happen. This campaign makes me happy and hopefully makes Robert proud.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tammi is also giving back by operating a Facebook group named \u201cAngel Mothers Unite\u201d providing uplifting messages to those who need it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is currently no vaccine available to prevent Hepatitis C, but early diagnosis of Hepatitis C is important as it can prevent serious liver problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Approximately 3.2 million people in the U.S. have chronic Hepatitis C, but most do not know that they are infected. This is exactly why testing is so important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hepatitis C is primarily spread through contact with blood from an infected person, even in amounts too small to see. People with Hepatitis C often have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they can be a sign of advanced liver disease (such as cirrhosis or scarring ofthe liver). \u201cHepatitis C is a leading cause of liver cancer and the leading cause of liver transplants,\u201d stated Deputy Director, Brenden Bedard, of Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

New treatments for Hepatitis C are available and more are in development. Today, chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is usually curable with oral medications taken every day for two to six months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, \u201cThe homeless population is disproportionately impacted by HCVinfection, with an estimated prevalence of 22% to 53% percent.\u201d(Dan, 2018).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hepatitis C Testing is recommended if you were born from 1945 through 1965, injected drugs, received donated blood or organs before 1992, have been exposed to blood on the job through a needle stick injury with a sharp object, have medical conditions, such as chronic liver disease or HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For information about Health Department services contact: Genesee County Health Department at: 344-2580 ext. 5555 or visit their website at www.co.genesee.ny.us\/departments\/health\/index.html. Visit Facebook at: Genesee & Orleans County Health Departmentsand Twitter: @GoHealthNY.\uf0b7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orleans County Health Department at: 589-3278 or check out our website at: www.orleansny.com\/publichealth. Visit Facebook at: Genesee & Orleans County Health Departmentsand Twitter: @GoHealthNY.\uf0b7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wyoming County Health Department at: 786-8890 or visit their web site at www.wyomingco.net\/health\/main.html. Visit Facebook at: Wyoming County Health Department. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Genesee, Orleans & Wyoming Public Health Column Press release To increase awareness about Hepatitis C, the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments are donating socks to Tammi Bale who operates the \u201cJust Socks, Ma\u201d Campaign, collecting socks to donate to those in need in memory of her son Robert Bale \u2026<\/p>\n

Continue reading<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[79,6,381],"tags":[1933],"class_list":["post-12879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-genesee","category-orleans-county","category-wyoming","tag-hepatitis-c"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-3lJ","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16874,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2020\/05\/21\/genesee-orleans-health-dept-learn-the-abcs-of-viral-hepatitis-public-health-column\/","url_meta":{"origin":12879,"position":0},"title":"Genesee Orleans Health Dept.\/Learn the ABCs of Viral Hepatitis\/ Public Health Column","author":"aka","date":"May 21, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"May is Hepatitis Awareness Month. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. \u201cHeavy alcohol use, some medications, toxins, and certain medical conditions can cause\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":23904,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2021\/03\/18\/genesee-county-public-service-announcement-health-update-free-hepatitis-a-vaccine-offered-to-food-service-workers\/","url_meta":{"origin":12879,"position":1},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Public Service Announcement\/Health Update\/Free Hepatitis A Vaccine offered to food service workers","author":"aka","date":"March 18, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release The Orleans County Health Department has been awarded a grant to provide the Hepatitis A Vaccine to food service workers at NO COST to them or the employer. In Western New York and across the United States, foodborne outbreaks of Hepatitis A have occurred as a result of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genesee County"","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":12050,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2019\/11\/01\/genesee-county-free-vaccine-available-for-food-service-workers\/","url_meta":{"origin":12879,"position":2},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Free vaccine available for food service workers","author":"aka","date":"November 1, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release The Genesee County Health Department has been awarded a grant to provide the Hepatitis A Vaccine to food service workers at no cost to them or the employer. In Western New York and across the United States, foodborne out-breaks of Hepatitis A have occurred as a result of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Genesee County"","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":52312,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2024\/04\/12\/genesee-orleans-raising-awareness-on-sexually-transmitted-infections-stis\/","url_meta":{"origin":12879,"position":3},"title":"GENESEE\/ORLEANS\/Raising awareness on sexually transmitted infections (STIs)","author":"aka","date":"April 12, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release April 14-20, 2024 is STI Awareness Week. This provides an opportunity to raise awareness about sexuality transmitted infections (STIs) and how they impact our lives. 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Vinyard said drugs and alcohol use nearly killed her, but she sought help and now has been sober since Dec. 30, 2017. By Mike Pettinella GCASA Publicist Over the 12 months\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/vinyard-talk-1-1.jpg?fit=1044%2C458&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/vinyard-talk-1-1.jpg?fit=1044%2C458&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/vinyard-talk-1-1.jpg?fit=1044%2C458&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/vinyard-talk-1-1.jpg?fit=1044%2C458&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":67498,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/08\/26\/batavia-photos-genesee-orleans-wyoming-cares-alliance-overdose-awareness-day-at-st-anthonys-on-tuesday-evening\/","url_meta":{"origin":12879,"position":5},"title":"BATAVIA\/Photos\/Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming CARES Alliance Overdose Awareness Day at St. Anthony’s on Tuesday evening","author":"aka","date":"August 26, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Previously: BATAVIA\/International Overdose Awareness Day includes event at St. Anthony\u2019s, Batavia \u2013 Video News Service","rel":"","context":"In "Batavia"","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/20250826_185208.jpg?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/20250826_185208.jpg?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/20250826_185208.jpg?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/20250826_185208.jpg?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/20250826_185208.jpg?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12879"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12879\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12881,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12879\/revisions\/12881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}