This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Public Health England encourages hepatitis C testing
Public Health England is urging people to get free testing for hepatitis C.
Around 200,000 people in the UK are thought to be living with chronic hepatitis C (hep C) infection - with many unaware they have it.
Many will be over the age of 50 and may have few or no specific symptoms.
Revolutionary treatments can now cure the virus in majority of cases, with best results achieved at the earlier stages of contracting the disease.
Those infected previously faced weeks of injections, with some experiencing side effects and struggling to complete the course.
Tablets can now clear the virus quicker and more effectively, with fewer side effects.
Many with hep C may have no specific symptoms, and simple ones, like fatigue and abdominal pain, are easily ignored or mistake for other conditions.
Free testing is available from local GPs, sexual health clinics, genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics or drug treatment services.
The call for testing comes as Public Health England publishes its most recent Hepatitis C in the UK report.
Dr Helen Harris, clinical scientist in Public Health England’s immunisation, hepatitis and blood safety department, said: “We strongly encourage anyone who may have been at risk of hep C infection to get tested, whether or not they have any symptoms. The sooner treatment starts, the greater the chance of avoiding long-term health complications. If people are unsure, they should visit their GP or take our quick online quiz to find out whether they might have been exposed to the hep C virus and would benefit from a test.
“We are hopeful that the increased access to improved treatments over recent years has contributed to the latest fall in deaths from severe hep C related liver disease. This, combined with interventions to prevent infection in the first place, can help us to achieve our vision of eliminating hep C as a major public health threat in the UK.”
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
