HEALTH MATTERS
WORLD Hepatitis Day will be held this Sunday, July 28.
It will celebrate the progress that has been made in viral hepatitis elimination.
Hepatitis is the term used to describe inflammation of the liver.
It’s usually the result of a viral infection or liver damage caused by drinking too much alcohol, more rarely it is caused by the body’s own immune system.
There are at least five types of viral hepatitis, including hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.
Symptoms of hepatitis include dark urine, pale or grey-coloured poo, itchy skin, and yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice), although some types likes hepatitis C can cause few symptoms.
A full list can be found on the NHS website at nhs.uk.
Hepatitis C is the most common viral hepatitis in the UK.
It is passed through blood-to-blood contact: it can be passed through sharing unsterilised needles, sharing razors, from a pregnant woman to her unborn child and through unprotected sex, although this is a rare occurence.
There is not a vaccination for hepatitis C, although there are effective treatments.
Hepatitis C often doesn’t have any noticeable symptoms until the liver has been significantly damaged.
This means many people have the infection without realising it.
But the good news is that more than 90 per cent of people with hepatitis C can be cured.
A full vaccination schedule can be found by visiting nhs.uk and typing in Hepatitis B.
For more information on this subject please visit http://www. worldhepatitisday.org/. PROTECTING and improving animal welfare remains a key priority. Over the past year, it has been a privilege to take forward a range of positive policy commitments in this important area.
As Animal Welfare Minister at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, I have introduced much-needed legislation in recent months.
For example, the Second Reading of the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill took place recently. This will increase the maximum sentence for animal cruelty offences from either six months to five years, or an unlimited fine, or both.
In May, I introduced legislation to ban thirdparty sales of puppies and kittens, helping to stamp out the appalling trade of farmed puppies and kittens and giving owners confidence that their new pet is healthy and has come from a responsible breeder.
Most recently, I was pleased to visit the Macclesfield branch of Cats Protection, to highlight the benefits of cat microchipping, to help identify beloved pets that are lost or stolen.
The Ivory Act, which I took through the House of Commons last year, continues to ensure the UK remains a world-leader in tackling the trade in ivory and protecting iconic elephant species for future generations. We are also legislating to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses, fulfilling a longstanding commitment to end this outdated practice.
Looking ahead, the Government remains committed to recognising animal sentience and ensuring that related changes required to UK law after we leave the EU are made in a rigorous and comprehensive way. Controls on live animal exports also continue to be part of the Government’s future plans.
I will go on supporting important measures to enhance animal welfare and help further progress this vital agenda as a priority.