More than 500 Halton residents have hepatitis C

MORE than 500 people in Halton are estimated to be infected with hepatitis C as Public Health England (PHE) has revealed the rate across the North West has remained stable since 2014.

The most recent estimates from PHE suggest at least 40,000 people across the North West acquired a hepatitis C infection and of those 27,000 have become chronic.

For Halton, the figures show 518 people in the borough are estimated to be infected.

Predicted numbers for those with the illness in Runcorn and Widnes in 2023 have also been released.

They include 243 people with a ‘mild’ or ‘moderate’ form of the disease, with 22 people at the ‘cirrotic’ or ‘end stage’.

A total of 59 deaths from the infection are also estimated, with 34 people having a sustained virologic response.

The PHE also believes there are 134 people in Halton who remain diagnosed with the illness but untreated, with 25 annual new diagnoses predicted.

Across the region, the report also shows that the number of infected people who have not been diagnosed remains high with an estimated 16,000 out of 40,000.

A PHE spokeswoman said many people may be unaware because they have no symptoms or mild symptoms, but they could be at risk of liver damage as well as passing on the infection to others.

Those most at risk of contracting hepatitis C infection in the North West are people who inject drugs or have injected drugs in the past, especially if they have shared injecting equipment.

They are at increased risk even if they injected only once or twice in the past.

A nationwide survey carried out in 2013 revealed that in the North West up to 68% of individuals who inject drugs have hepatitis C infection.

People in prison settings also have an increased risk of hepatitis C infection,

Evdokia Dardamissis from PHE North West said: “Hepatitis C remains a major public health concern and one that we are actively addressing in partnership with the NHS and drug services.

“The rate of hepatitis C-related mortality and hospital admissions for hepatitis C-related end stage liver disease in the North West is almost twice as high as the rate in England.

“However, we are committed to working closely with multiple stakeholders to improve surveillance, diagnosis and care pathways.

“By increasing public awareness, those people most at risk can take the necessary preventative measures to protect themselves, and those who are already infected can be brought into highly effective treatment programmes.

“We encourage anyone who believes that they may be at risk to ask their GP or drug services to be tested for the virus.

“This is an infection which can be cured in most people.

“Simple measures such as using sterile injecting equipment and not sharing personal items like toothbrushes and razors will minimise chances of being exposed to hepatitis C.”