NHS encouraging Angus folk to get tested for hepatitis C

To support World Hepatitis Day, which is tomorrow, NHS Tayside is encouraging Angus residents to get tested for hepatitis C and to take advantage of improved treatments.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a chronic, infectious, fatal disease which can cause serious liver damage and liver cancer.

Those most at risk include people who are currently or have a history of injecting drugs (even if it was only once or twice), including steroids or other performance enhancing or body image drugs.

In addition, individuals who have had tattoos or medical or dental procedures carried out abroad at facilities that may not have used sterile equipment should consider getting tested.

Donna Thain, blood borne virus managed care network manager with NHS Tayside, said: “We want to get across the message hepatitis C, when diagnosed, can be cured. The testing is quick and easy and is widely available across Tayside.

“We have diagnosed 85% of our estimated chronic population in Tayside and cured the majority, but there are still a lot of people who do not know they have hepatitis C, posing a risk both to their own health as well as an ongoing transmission risk to others.

“Many people will have been infected 10–20 years ago and be unaware of their diagnosis.

“We want to make sure people know there is a wide range of friendly, accessible services across Tayside that can offer testing and access to very effective treatments.

“Hepatitis C is completely curable and treatment for most people will be with 8-12 weeks of tablets.

“Over 95% of people can be cured easily.”