Hepatitis B prevention campaign stops by Rutgers University

In an effort to support the B HERE campaign, several Asian-American musicians whose claim to fame started with a YouTube video, recently performed at Rutgers University. B HERE is a national initiative that was launched to raise awareness of the hepatitis B risk among Asian American and Pacific Islanders, according to MyCentralJersey.com.

Students who attended the concert received tickets after watching a video that covered the health risks and treatment options for hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B is a disease that infects the liver and spreads through the blood as well as other bodily fluids, especially during unprotected sex. Because prenatal care is insufficient in some Asian countries, the spreading of this sexually transmitted disease (STD) has also been linked to being born outside the U.S.

Jon Pagtakhan, co-president of the Association of Philippine Students at the university, told the news source that "what we're trying to do is connect with the students through music and the arts, and spread the word about hepatitis B."

In 2007, an estimated 43,000 new cases of hepatitis B were diagnosed in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.