About 1 in 7 Asian immigrants coming into the United States have hepatitis B and are at a much higher risk for liver cancer. The findings were published in a recent issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a publication of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccinations can prevent hepatitis B infection and are given to children born in the US. Hepatitis B is the number one cause for liver cancer worldwide except for in the United States where the vaccinations are given at birth. Liver cancer in Asian males is number 2 just behind lung cancer.


Hepatitis B can be transmitted through blood or sexual contact and can be passed to children through their pregnant mother during birth. Children may also pick up hepatitis B from constant close contact with infected family members. Because signs and symptoms do not usually appear until the cancer is in its later stages, liver cancer is seldom diagnosed early. That is why project director, Henry Pollack, MD, and principal investigator of the hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma project at NYU's Center for the Study of Asian American Health launched a program to inform Asian immigrants and their families to educate them about hepatitis B and help them get tested. If they are positive then they will get them into treatment.