Advocates are encouraged by recent federal changes regarding health professionals and students who have the hepatitis B virus (HBV), The Associated Press reports. In March, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) settled a lawsuit with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey over claims it had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by excluding two HBV-positive applicants. The DOJ based its decision on revised guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2012 that make it clear health care providers pose little to no HBV risk to patients. Advocates say the DOJ settlement and the revised CDC guidelines help health professionals and students living with hep B fight discrimination in the workplace and academia.

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