Public Health England (PHE) is working with The Hepatitis C Trust to raise awareness of new data released by the charity to mark World Hepatitis Day – with figures showing a widespread lack of awareness of the transmission risks and symptoms of the potentially deadly virus.
Despite around 80% of people stating they thought they knew what hepatitis C is, only 27% of people in the region knew that it infects the liver (37.8% nationally), and less than 30% in the region and nationally are aware that the virus is curable.
Symptom awareness is also low, with around a third of people regionally and nationally accurately identifying tiredness, loss of appetite, vomiting and abdominal pains as signs of infection. When asked how hepatitis C is transmitted, nearly a quarter of people (23%) in the region (27% nationally) incorrectly said it was through exchanging saliva.
Just over half (51.7%) of people in the West Midlands knew that symptoms are not always obvious and can go unnoticed (a little more than 46.5% nationally), leading to people living for years without knowing they are infected.
If left untreated, hepatitis C can lead to liver cancer, liver failure and death. Between 2005 and 2014, deaths from hepatitis-C related end-stage liver disease in England more than doubled, though are now beginning to fall due to new treatments.
Public Health England (PHE) is supporting The Hepatitis C Trust, calling for increased community outreach efforts to ensure all those living with hepatitis C who are undiagnosed or out of touch with services are tested, treated and cured. Bold ambition is necessary to increase the numbers of people tested and diagnosed for hepatitis C and achieve the NHS England ambition of eliminating hepatitis C by 2025.
Dr Bharat Sibal, lead Health Protection consultant with PHE West Midlands, said: “Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood-to-blood contact and, contrary to popular myth, cannot be spread via spitting, coughing, sneezing or other physical contact. It is preventable, treatable and curable for the vast majority of people. Since 2015, treatments with short durations, limited side-effects and cure rates upwards of 95% have been widely available. “People who inject drugs are the group most at risk of becoming infected with hepatitis C, and anyone who has ever injected drugs, even once or a long time ago, should get tested. Other high-risk groups include men who have sex with men, people in the South Asian community, and people who received a blood transfusion prior to 1991. Referral for testing is available through GPs, and support and guidance is available from The Hepatitis C Trust via a helpline staffed by people with direct experience of hepatitis C.”
Political leaders, clinical experts and campaigners have spoken out on World Hepatitis Day to express their support for the fight to eliminate hepatitis C and emphasise the importance of increasing the numbers of people tested and treated.
Rachel Halford, Chief Executive of The Hepatitis C Trust, said: “With revolutionary new treatments available to all through the NHS, this new data shows clearly that the greatest challenges to tackling hepatitis C are dispelling misconceptions, raising awareness and minimising barriers to testing and treatment. We want to see treatment available in all community settings, including pharmacies, drug and alcohol services, sexual health services and primary care. There’s no reason that testing cannot be conducted by any trained service worker, and community outreach will be essential to ensuring all those currently undiagnosed are tested, treated and cured."
Dr Helen Harris, Clinical Scientist at Public Health England, said: “The results of this survey highlight the very low levels of awareness of hepatitis C and the factors that put people at risk of infection. We strongly encourage anyone who may have been at risk of hepatitis C infection to get tested, whether or not they have any symptoms. It is crucial that people are tested and diagnosed in order that they can access treatment early to clear the virus. Increased levels of testing and diagnosis are essential if we are to reach our goal of eliminating hepatitis C as a major public health threat in the UK by 2030, at the latest.”
Professor Steve Ryder, Consultant Hepatologist and Chair of the Hepatitis C Coalition, said: “This timely research from the Hepatitis C Trust is very welcome. As World Hepatitis Day approaches, now is the time for action on eliminating this curable disease. As these survey results demonstrate, it is critical that we address the lack of awareness and the misinformation surrounding hepatitis C swiftly and decisively. We need to spread the message as widely as possible that people should be on the lookout for symptoms and to get tested if they have any of the risk factors. Crucially, there is no cause for alarm, because this disease can be effectively treated. This is a public health battle we can win, and it is a real opportunity to seize it with both hands.”
