Harvard, MIT and Brown Team HBV Students Aim for Guinness World Record to Benefit Viral Hepatitis AwarenessParticipants will receive vouchers for Hepatitis screening at no cost from event supporter Quest Diagnostics

Who: Team HBV students from Harvard, MIT and Brown, Cambridge City Councillor Leland Cheung, experts and employee volunteers from Quest Diagnostics standing alongside hundreds of community members

What: Worldwide Guinness Book of World Records attempt to raise awareness about the prevalence of hepatitis and disease prevention—especially among Boston’s Asian community

When: July 28, 2012 @ Noon (Eastern Time)

Where: Boston Common at the intersection of Park Street and Tremont Street

Why: According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), roughly 350 million people worldwide have chronic hepatitis B and 170 million people have chronic hepatitis C. While this is far higher than the prevalence of HIV or any cancer, awareness is inexplicably low and the majority of those infected are unaware. That is why viral hepatitis is reputed to be a “silent epidemic” by HHS and countless other global health organizations.

In Boston, Asians represent less than 10% of the total population; however they account for more than 50% of new chronic hepatitis B cases.

However, hepatitis B is preventable, by using a vaccine and by using protection. Screening also plays an important role in stopping the spread of the disease. There also are treatments that can help.

The team will rally participants to convene and simultaneously perform “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” actions to highlight the fact that around the world hepatitis needs greater attention. The event is part of the World Hepatitis Alliance’s Guinness Book of World Record attempt to have the most people participate in 24 hours at multiple venues around the world.

For more information contact: Patrick George at pgeorge@ka-pow.com

TeamHBV.org/Boston Supported by