Are you 1 in 12? Weigh up your risks and get tested for Hepatitis C
21 May, 2010
In support of World Hepatitis C Day, 19 May 2010, the City Health Care Partnership Addictions Service will be on hand to awareness about hepatitis C, the risks of infection and the treatment options available to people in the City.
Hepatitis C is a blood?borne virus mainly spread through blood-to-blood contact. About 200,000 people are estimated to have chronic (long-term) hepatitis C infection in England, with about a half of those undiagnosed.
The team will be at the Quays Surgery, Myton Street from 8.00am – 6.30pm, giving out information and advice, and will be found sporting the national campaign t-shirts ‘Are you number 12?’ to highlight that approximately 1 in 12 of the world population has chronic HBV or HCV infection, that is often undiagnosed.
The day is open for patients, carers and the general public to come along and find out information on hepatitis C. The team will be providing advice on screening as well as referring people to hepatitis specialist services as necessary.
Mike Johnson, Addictions Service Manager is heading up the local campaign, he said:
“Hepatitis C is often called the ‘silent disease’ because symptoms can take years or even decades to occur. If left untreated the virus can damage the liver, potentially causing cirrhosis and primary liver cancer but effective treatment for the virus is available.”
“There are a range of ways you can contract hepatitis C – what’s important isn’t how you got it, but to make sure you get tested and get access to treatment if you think you might be at risk. “
Currently, the greatest risk of transmission in this country is through sharing equipment for injecting drugs.
Other less common ways the virus is passed on include:
- From infected mother to baby, before or during birth
- Through unprotected sex with someone who has the virus
- By medical/dental treatment abroad, where unsterile equipment may have been used
- By tattooing, ear or body piercing, acupuncture, electrolysis and semi-permanent make-up where unsterile equipment may have been used
- By sharing razors or toothbrushes that may have been contaminated with blood from someone who is infected
If you think you are at risk of having contracted hepatitis C or would like further information, please contact your GP for further information and advice.An online tool to help people assess their own risk of hepatitis C is available at www.nhs.uk/hepc along with general information on the virus.
