29-07-2025
UKHSA issues warning over deadly disease 'without symptoms'
The UK Health Security Agency is urging people to undergo a test for a potentially deadly disease - but you may not even know you have it
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is calling on the public to get screened for a potentially fatal illness. The UKHSA works to prevent, prepare for and tackle infectious diseases and environmental threats to safeguard the nation's wellbeing.
The agency has issued an alert regarding Hepatitis C, a virus typically transmitted through blood-to-blood contact with someone who is infected. Across Britain, it is predominantly passed on via shared needles amongst drug users.
Beyond UK borders, substandard medical practices are generally the culprit. Worldwide, roughly 50 million individuals are living with chronic hepatitis C, while around 1 million fresh cases emerge annually. During 2022, hepatitis C was responsible for approximately 242,000 fatalities, chiefly due to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Thankfully, figures have plummeted considerably across the UK in recent times. From 2015 to 2023, chronic hepatitis C cases amongst England's general population dropped dramatically by 56.7 per cent, reports Surrey Live.
Enhanced treatment availability has also resulted in a minimal hepatitis C-related death rate of 0.41 per 100,000 people. Expanded testing programmes are believed to have contributed to this decline, prompting the UKHSA to encourage screening for those meeting specific criteria.
The UKHSA stated: "Have you had a blood transfusion before 1996? Blood transfusions before 1992 and blood products before 1986 in the UK were not routinely tested for hepatitis C.
"Have you ever shared a needle or other equipment for injecting drugs? Have you ever had medical, dental, or cosmetic treatment at home or abroad in unsterile conditions? Have you ever had condomless sex, or shared a razor or toothbrush with someone who might have hepatitis C?
"Have you had a household contact, close family member, or sexual partner with hepatitis C? Were you born in a counter where hepatitis C is more common? This includes countries in Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia?
"If you've answered yes to any of these questions, there may be a chance you have come into contact with hepatitis C. Speak to your GP about getting tested."
Hepatitis C - the facts
The NHS explains that hepatitis C stems from the hepatitis C virus. It frequently presents with minimal or no obvious symptoms, or merely flu-like signs, meaning countless individuals remain oblivious to their infection.
Certain people will successfully combat the infection and eliminate the virus from their system. However, in other instances, it remains dormant in the body for numerous years. This condition is termed chronic hepatitis C and may lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and cancer.
Chronic hepatitis C responds well to highly effective antiviral treatments, though no preventative vaccine currently exists. Without proper treatment, it can trigger severe symptoms and potentially fatal liver damage.
The UKHSA is striving to meet the World Health Organisation's goal of eradicating hepatitis C by 20230. It's estimated that around 92,900 individuals in the UK are living with chronic hepatitis C infection, marking a significant 47 per cent reduction since 2015.
