Silent Hepatitis C Threatens Thousands
                            
            
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                            22 May 2024
                            
          
         
                                   
                                         
      
      
      
      
      
      
         
         
            
         
         
         
            
                            Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that targets the liver, causing inflammation and damage untreated 
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
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                            The UK saw increased demand for hepatitis C tests after the infected blood inquiry findings in 2024 
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
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                            According to BBC, 1,750 people in the UK unknowingly have hepatitis C from contaminated blood transfusions; globally, thousands more 
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
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                            Hepatitis C spreads through blood-to-blood contact, including intravenous drug use and medical procedures 
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
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                            Baby boomers, born between 1945 and 1965, have higher hepatitis C rates due to past medical practices 
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
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                            Hepatitis C, identified in 1989, led to a Nobel Prize; routine screening of blood began in 1991 
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
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                            Symptoms are often mild or nonexistent; long-term infection can lead to severe liver disease and cancer 
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
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                            Effective treatments for hepatitis C, available since 2013, have a high cure rate and few side effects 
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
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                            The World Health Organization aims for global hepatitis C elimination by 2030; the UK targets 2025 
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
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                            Free confidential home hepatitis C tests are available in the UK as part of elimination efforts 
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
                            
                            
            
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