England is on track to become one of the first countries in the world to eliminate hepatitis C, a dangerous virus that attacks the liver, with new figures showing the NHS has already met a key treatment target.
England on course to beat the WHO 2030 target
NHS England says the goal of treating 80% of all known cases has already been met, and deaths from the virus have fallen by 36% in the last decade. The country is closing in on the World Health Organization’s 2030 elimination milestone, with more than 100,000 people diagnosed and treated since 2015.
The silent liver virus explained
Hepatitis C is spread through contact with infected blood, for example by sharing needles. It is a “silent” disease – many people have no symptoms until serious liver damage has already set in, which is why undetected cases are so dangerous.
How it spreads
Donor blood is already screened, but the virus can linger undetected for years. Adults born in parts of central and eastern Europe are particularly urged to test, as some may have been infected through medical or dental procedures before 1991.
A cure in 8 to 12 weeks
Taking antiviral tablets for just eight to twelve weeks can cure more than 95% of cases, making the condition one of the most treatable major infections when it is caught in time.
NHS drive to find the undiagnosed
Initiatives including A&E blood tests, GP registration testing and free at-home kits have helped find people who were previously undiagnosed. Around 50,200 adults in England are thought to be living with hepatitis C, with 84.6% now diagnosed.
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Who should come forward for testing
NHS England is urging those at greater risk to order a free, confidential home-testing kit online without needing to see a GP. Prof Frankie Swords, national medical director, said England is “leading the world” and urged people not to wait.
The infected blood scandal legacy
The progress sits against the backdrop of the infected blood scandal, in which more than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C from contaminated products between 1970 and 1991 – the biggest treatment disaster in NHS history.
Outlook
With a 65% reduction in mortality still to secure before 2030, the final push is on to find and treat the remaining undiagnosed. For the thousands already cured, including grandfather Paul Eatwell from Blackburn, the campaign is already a quiet British public-health success story.
Source: Original report. Rewrite for Your News Website.
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