UKHSA urges Brits to 'get tested' for deadly disease with 'no noticeable symptoms'
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is sounding the alarm for individuals to get tested for a potentially fatal illness. Tasked with safeguarding the nation against infectious diseases and environmental threats, the UKHSA plays a pivotal role in protecting public health across the UK.
The agency has issued a stark warning regarding Hepatitis C, a virus typically transmitted through blood-to-blood contact with someone who is infected. In the UK, sharing needles for drug injection is the most common mode of transmission.
Internationally, substandard healthcare practices are often the culprit. An estimated 50 million people globally are living with chronic hepatitis C, with about 1 million new cases each year. In 2022, hepatitis C was responsible for roughly 242,000 deaths, mainly due to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
However, the prevalence of chronic hepatitis C has seen a significant decline in the UK. From 2015 to 2023, the number of chronic hepatitis C cases in England plummeted by 56.7 per cent among the general population, reports Surrey Live.
This decrease can be attributed to better access to treatment, resulting in a low hepatitis C virus-related death rate of 0.41 per 100,000 people. The fall in numbers is also believed to be due to increased testing, prompting the UKHSA to encourage testing under certain circumstances.
The UKHSA stated: "Have you had a blood transfusion before 1996? Blood transfusions before 1992 and blood products before 1986 in the UK were not routinely tested for hepatitis C.
"Have you ever shared a needle or other equipment for injecting drugs? Have you ever had medical, dental, or cosmetic treatment at home or abroad in unsterile conditions? Have you ever had condomless sex, or shared a razor or toothbrush with someone who might have hepatitis C?
"Have you had a household contact, close family member, or sexual partner with hepatitis C? Were you born in a counter where hepatitis C is more common? This includes countries in Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia?
"If you've answered yes to any of these questions, there may be a chance you have come into contact with hepatitis C. Speak to your GP about getting tested."
Hepatitis C - the facts
The hepatitis C virus triggers this condition, according to the NHS. It frequently produces no obvious symptoms, or just flu-like signs, meaning countless individuals remain oblivious to their infection.
Certain people will successfully combat the infection and eliminate the virus from their system. In alternative scenarios, it will remain within the body for numerous years. This is referred to as chronic hepatitis C and may lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and cancer.
Chronic hepatitis C can be addressed using highly effective antiviral medications, though no vaccine is presently available. Without treatment, it may trigger severe symptoms and potentially fatal liver damage.
The UKHSA is striving to meet the World Health Organisation's goal of eradicating hepatitis C by 20230. It's estimated that around 92,900 individuals in the UK are living with chronic hepatitis C infection, marking a 47 per cent reduction since 2015.
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