HSE urges testing on World Hepatitis Day

The HSE is urging anyone who might be at risk of hepatitis C to get tested today (Monday) - World Hepatitis Day 2014.

According to the body as many as half of the 20,000-50,000 people in Ireland who are chronically affected might not even be aware of it.

The majority of hepatitis C infections are related to injecting drug use. However it can also be acquired by any blood to blood contact.

“About 1,000 new cases are notified each year and Irish health services will come under further pressure in the future if we don’t actively work to prevent new cases occurring and diagnose and treat the cases that have already occurred,” Dr Stephen Stewart said today.

Often called the silent pandemic because patients can be infected without knowing it, hepatitis C leads to cirrhosis of the liver typically two or three decades later for a minority of patients.

Patients also suffer a higher risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of primary liver cancer.

Details of available tests and more information is available at www.hse.ie/hepc, while videos are available to view at www.drugs.ie/hepc.