Advocacy and Community Information

Includes: 1. Substance Use and Migrant Labor: Part Two 2. Effects of hepatitis C virus co-infection on survival in veterans with HIV treated with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy. 3. Integrating Hepatitis, STD, and HIV Services into a Drug Rehabilitation Program. 4. The impact of barriers to Hepatitis C virus treatment in recovering heroin users maintained on methadone.

We began in July with information about substance abuse among migrant workers. The current edition is Harm Reduction Strategies for HCV Substance Abusers. Potential substance abuse treatment sites and resources for migrants will follow in September.

Our focus this month is Hepatitis B.

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month. In light of this, we're posting a special edition for the month of May. The Migrant Clinicians Network is happy to release the position paper "Hepatitis Screening, Immunization and Testing for Mobile Populations and Immigrants from Latin America and the Caribbean." This paper clarifies standard hepatitis recommendations for these populations.

The following links and and articles are available In the January Listserv: 1. Links to the full text of the ACIP recommendations for infants, adolescents, and children. 2. Dear Colleague Letter about New Recommendations to Prevent Perinatal HBV. Summary of the recommendations from HEP EXPRESS Viral hepatitis news from the Immunization Action Coalition Issue Number 39, January 6, 2006 3. ”Hepatitis B Vaccine Considered for All Adults from American Medical News on upcoming adult immunizations, summarizes issues that are central to the HepTalk project clinics and their clients.