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| Fears over hepatitis C awareness | Fears over hepatitis C awareness |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thousands of people are still being diagnosed with the severe liver disease hepatitis C in England despite a major awareness campaign, figures show. | Thousands of people are still being diagnosed with the severe liver disease hepatitis C in England despite a major awareness campaign, figures show. |
| Data from the Health Protection Agency shows the number newly diagnosed in 2005 was 7,580, down 400 from 2004. | Data from the Health Protection Agency shows the number newly diagnosed in 2005 was 7,580, down 400 from 2004. |
| Hepatitis C, which is contracted through infected blood, can cause cirrhosis, liver failure or cancer. | Hepatitis C, which is contracted through infected blood, can cause cirrhosis, liver failure or cancer. |
| There is concern the 4,855 people now living with cirrhosis or serious liver failure in 2005 could double by 2015. | |
| We're simply not diagnosing people fast enough Charles Gore, Hepatitis C Trust | We're simply not diagnosing people fast enough Charles Gore, Hepatitis C Trust |
| Most people who contract the disease do so by sharing needles when injecting drugs. | Most people who contract the disease do so by sharing needles when injecting drugs. |
| But others could have become infected through a blood transfusion, if they received one before screening was introduced in 1991 - or through sharing banknotes or straws to snort cocaine. | But others could have become infected through a blood transfusion, if they received one before screening was introduced in 1991 - or through sharing banknotes or straws to snort cocaine. |
| Studies have shown that this can put people at risk. | Studies have shown that this can put people at risk. |
| Testing for the disease has increased, with GPs carrying out 60% more tests last year than in 2002. | |
| But many people do not realise they have the virus as it can take years or even decades for symptoms to appear. | |
| The latest estimates on the number of adults infected with hepatitis C suggested there were around 231,000 in 2003. | |
| However early treatment is usually effective at clearing it up. | |
| 'At risk' | 'At risk' |
| Dr Helen Harris, a hepatitis C expert from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said: "Hepatitis C is very under-diagnosed simply because people are unaware that they are carrying it. | Dr Helen Harris, a hepatitis C expert from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said: "Hepatitis C is very under-diagnosed simply because people are unaware that they are carrying it. |
| "By increasing awareness of the infection, more people will be tested, will receive earlier and more effective treatment, and they can avoid passing it on to others." | "By increasing awareness of the infection, more people will be tested, will receive earlier and more effective treatment, and they can avoid passing it on to others." |
| She added: "We estimate that almost six in 10 people with hepatitis C injected drugs at some point in their past. | She added: "We estimate that almost six in 10 people with hepatitis C injected drugs at some point in their past. |
| "If someone has ever shared equipment for injecting drugs - even if it was a long time ago, and even if they only did it once or twice - they could be at risk from hepatitis C. | "If someone has ever shared equipment for injecting drugs - even if it was a long time ago, and even if they only did it once or twice - they could be at risk from hepatitis C. |
| "A simple blood test can establish whether someone has ever been infected with the virus." | "A simple blood test can establish whether someone has ever been infected with the virus." |
| Professor Pete Borriello, director of the HPA's Centre for Infections said: "Testing for hepatitis C has increased significantly, however there is still much work to be done as a significant number of individuals remain undiagnosed. | Professor Pete Borriello, director of the HPA's Centre for Infections said: "Testing for hepatitis C has increased significantly, however there is still much work to be done as a significant number of individuals remain undiagnosed. |
| "If you don't know you've got it, you can't do anything about it. Health services should consider this as they formulate strategies to increase testing." | "If you don't know you've got it, you can't do anything about it. Health services should consider this as they formulate strategies to increase testing." |
| Charles Gore, chief executive of the Hepatitis C Trust said: "It is really concerning that the 2005 figure actually shows a fall on the 2004 number of diagnoses. | Charles Gore, chief executive of the Hepatitis C Trust said: "It is really concerning that the 2005 figure actually shows a fall on the 2004 number of diagnoses. |
| "I am going to be writing to the Chief Medical Officer, asking him to re-evaluate the public awareness campaign, because it doesn't seem to be giving the desired result to get more people coming forward for testing. | "I am going to be writing to the Chief Medical Officer, asking him to re-evaluate the public awareness campaign, because it doesn't seem to be giving the desired result to get more people coming forward for testing. |
| "We're simply not diagnosing people fast enough. That leaves people at risk of both spreading the people to other people and of developing severe liver disease." | "We're simply not diagnosing people fast enough. That leaves people at risk of both spreading the people to other people and of developing severe liver disease." |