PRINCETON, N.J., May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of the need to increase education and awareness for chronic hepatitis B, the Hepatitis B Foundation and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company are partnering to host "AIM for the B: Awareness, Involvement and Mobilization for Chronic Hepatitis B," a public education program designed to elevate the urgency for prioritizing chronic hepatitis B as a serious health issue in the United States. As part of the initiative, a series of local events will take place May 9-16, to coincide with "National Hepatitis B Awareness Week," as designated by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

The "AIM for the B" program includes events held in four U.S. cities where chronic hepatitis B prevalence is high -- Philadelphia, New York, San Jose (Calif.) and San Francisco. During the events, local physicians, chronic hepatitis B patients and third-party organizations will gather to share their experiences with the disease, and discuss the importance of early diagnosis and care. More than one million people in the U.S. have developed chronic hepatitis B infection and an estimated 5,000 Americans die from hepatitis B and hepatitis B-related liver complications each year.

"There is a tremendous lack of awareness for chronic hepatitis B in this country," said U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). "During 'National Hepatitis B Awareness Week,' programs such as 'AIM for the B' are important because they help raise awareness for the disease and encourage Americans at risk to get tested and physicians and patients to take an active approach to managing chronic hepatitis B."

"We are grateful to Congress for recognizing the need to prioritize chronic hepatitis B as a serious health issue in the United States," said Molli Conti, the Hepatitis B Foundation's vice president of outreach programs. "Less than 30 percent of adults infected with hepatitis B experience symptoms of the disease, which often leads them to think it is not serious and does not require medical attention. As a result, it is estimated that only a small percentage of patients are currently receiving care for the disease. We created the 'AIM for the B' program to educate Americans that this disease can be life-threatening and to encourage screening for the disease if they are at risk and to seek care from a knowledgeable physician."

As part of the "AIM for the B" local events held in Philadelphia, New York, San Jose and San Francisco, Asian and Pacific Islander (API) patients infected with the hepatitis B virus and physicians will speak on their personal experiences with the disease. In the United States, APIs make up more than half of the population infected with the hepatitis B virus. Depending on the country of origin, between five and 15 percent of API immigrants to the United States are chronically infected, and approximately 15 to 40 percent of chronically infected hepatitis B patients will develop liver scarring (cirrhosis), liver failure or liver cancer.

"The 'AIM for the B' program is making progress in helping the U.S. Asian and Pacific Islander community understand the severity of chronic hepatitis B," said Jeffrey Caballero, executive director, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO). "We strongly believe increased education and awareness on a national level is the right path to helping providers and patients understand how they can prevent the transmission of the hepatitis B virus and seek appropriate care for the disease."

For more information about the "AIM for the B" program and local events, contact the Hepatitis B Foundation at 215-489-4900 or visit http://www.hepb.org/.

About the Hepatitis B Foundation

The Hepatitis B Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure and improving the quality of life for those affected by hepatitis B through a comprehensive program of research, education, and patient advocacy. The organization is committed to raising funds for focused research, promoting disease awareness, supporting immunization and treatment initiatives, and serving as the primary source of hepatitis B information for patients and their families, the medical and scientific community, and the general public. Visit the Hepatitis B Foundation at http://www.hepb.org/.

About Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global pharmaceutical and related health care products company whose mission is to extend and enhance human life. Visit Bristol-Myers Squibb at http://www.bms.com/.