England has every chance of becoming one of the first countries in the world to eliminate hepatitis C — a dangerous virus that affects the liver, according to recent data. The target of treating 80% of all known cases has already been achieved, and the number of deaths from the virus has decreased by 36% over the past decade, which is just slightly below the indicator needed to achieve the goal by 2030. Taking antiviral drugs for 8-12 weeks can cure more than 95% of cases.
Initiatives such as blood tests in emergency departments (A&E), testing during registration with a general practitioner, and free home tests have helped identify people who were previously undiagnosed, according to NHS England. Hepatitis C is a ‘silent disease,’ meaning people often have no symptoms until the later stages of the disease. It spreads through contact with blood infected with the virus, for example, through sharing needles. Donor blood is already being tested for the virus. Without treatment, hepatitis C can cause serious and potentially life-threatening liver damage.
Progress in treatment and diagnosis
According to NHS England, since 2015, over 100,000 people have been diagnosed and treated for hepatitis C, meaning the country has achieved this goal. Another goal — reducing mortality related to hepatitis C by 65% compared to the 2015 level — has not yet been achieved, but this indicator could be reached by the target date of 2030. According to data for 2024, about 50,200 adults in England are living with hepatitis C. Estimates show that 84.6% of them have already been diagnosed, which is just slightly below the target of 90%.
The Hepatitis C Trust states that England is ‘on the verge’ of one of the most significant achievements in public health in the country’s history. Professor Frankie Swords, National Medical Director of the NHS, added: “England is now leading the world in the fight to eliminate this disease and has every chance of exceeding the WHO target for 2030, but we are determined to maintain the pace and complete this work. We aim to identify and treat everyone who needs help, and we urge people at higher risk to take a free and confidential home test by ordering a kit online.”
Risk groups and testing
Adults born in Ukraine, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Albania, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, or Slovakia are particularly urged to get tested, as some of them may have been infected during medical or dental procedures before 1991. People can order a free and confidential NHS self-test kit for home use without needing to visit a general practitioner.
Paul Itwell, who is 65 years old, was diagnosed after a routine blood test. The grandfather from Blackburn, Lancashire, said: “My first reaction was disbelief. I remember saying, ‘Are you sure? There must be some mistake.’ I didn’t feel ill. I kept thinking, how could I have been infected?” He says the medical support he received was invaluable. Although it is not known how Itwell was infected with the virus, it is suggested that the cause could have been an operation in South Africa several decades ago.
Infected blood scandal
Between 1970 and 1991, over 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products and transfusions. The infected blood scandal is considered the biggest medical disaster in the history of the NHS. Since then, about 3,000 people have died, and more deaths are expected. A public inquiry found that the authorities concealed the scale of the scandal and subjected the victims to unacceptable risks.
Source: BBC
