England on Track to Eliminate Hepatitis C

England is on the path to becoming one of the first countries in the world to eliminate hepatitis C, a serious virus that can cause liver damage. According to figures, the target of treating 80% of all known cases has already been met, and deaths from the virus have fallen by 36% in the last decade, just short of the goal set for 2030.

## Initiatives to Diagnose and Treat Hepatitis C

Initiatives such as A&E blood tests, GP registration testing, and free at-home tests have helped to find people who were previously undiagnosed, says NHS England. These efforts have led to over 100,000 people being diagnosed and treated for hepatitis C since 2015.

### Silent Disease

Hepatitis C is a silent disease, meaning people often have no symptoms until much later. It is spread through contact with blood infected with the virus, such as by sharing needles with someone who has it. Donor blood is already screened for it.

| Disease | 2024 Figures | | --- | --- | | Adults living with hepatitis C | 50,200 | | Percentage of those living with hepatitis C who have been diagnosed | 84.6% |

The goal of a 65% reduction in hepatitis C-related mortality compared with 2015 levels has yet to be met, but it may be achieved before the 2030 target date.

## Public Health Achievement

The Hepatitis C Trust says England is "on the cusp" of one of the most significant public health achievements in the country's history. NHS England is committed to finding and treating everyone who needs support and urges those at greater risk to come forward by ordering a free and confidential home-testing kit online.

### Risk Groups

Adults born in Ukraine, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Albania, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Czechia, or Slovakia are particularly urged to test, as some may have been infected through medical or dental procedures before 1991.

People can order a free, confidential NHS home self-testing kit without needing to speak to a GP. Paul Eatwell, 65, was diagnosed after a routine blood test and says the medical support he received made a huge difference.

## Infected Blood Scandal

From 1970 to 1991, more than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C from contaminated blood products and fusions. The infected blood scandal is known as the biggest treatment disaster in the NHS. About 3,000 have since died and more deaths will follow. A public inquiry found authorities covered up the scandal and exposed victims to unacceptable risks.