Hepatitis C is often known as the silent killer but if caught quickly enough it can be effectively treated.

Hepatitis C is an often silent infection that affects thousands of people across the north – with the vast majority of those not even aware they have the virus.

In Greater Manchester alone it is estimated that around 20,000 people have been exposed to hepatitis C, with about 15,000 chronically infected. But because the signs and symptoms are rarely present in the early years of infection, most people remain undiagnosed.

In Yorkshire and Humber, it is estimated that there are over 25,000 people who have hepatitis C. Yet only a tiny minority of those infected – 1,093 people – have received a positive diagnosis to date.

Between 2008 and 2009, the number of hepatitis C cases in the UK increased by almost 5 per cent. Of the 8,196 new cases reported nationally in 2008, 1,679 of these were in the North West.

But a simple blood test is all that’s needed to seek effective treatment for an illness that can – if left untreated – lead to liver cirrhosis and even cancer.

Now the NHS is encouraging more people to get tested through their local GP or GU (genito-urinary) clinic.
“More needs to be done to encourage people to get tested,” says Cathie Gillies, Hepatitis C project manager with the Yorkshire and Humber Improvement Partnership. “If caught early enough, hepatitis C can be treated effectively for the majority of people. It can often be prevented if people are aware of the risks.”

Most people infected with hepatitis C will remain well for several years, making the infection difficult to recognise until liver disease is advanced. However, early symptoms can include fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, depression or anxiety, discomfort in the liver and poor memory or concentration.
Currently, the greatest risk of contracting hepatitis C in the UK is through sharing equipment for injecting drugs. Sharing injecting equipment, even on a one-off basis or a long time ago, could place a person at risk of hepatitis. Those who don’t inject drugs but share other equipment – for example, when snorting cocaine or mephedrone – also risk contracting the virus.
Siobhan Fahey, programme manager for the Greater Manchester Hepatitis C Strategy, says the increase in cases is not all bad news, and may be down to the effectiveness of recent public information campaigns.
She adds: “This is why the Greater Manchester Hepatitis C Strategy is so important and why we need to raise awareness of the disease and encourage people who think they may be at risk of infection to come forward and get tested.
“It is also important for people to be aware of the dangers of picking up hepatitis C from injecting drugs or from other ways that people are at risk of infection.”

There is an increasing amount of work now taking place across the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber to raise awareness about hepatitis C. The Department of Health is also working on a National Liver Strategy that will address hepatitis C and the Royal College of GPs is also in the process of developing a National Certificate in the Detection, Diagnosis and Management of Hepatitis B and C in Primary Care to raise the profile of hepatitis and encourage more individuals to access testing and where appropriate treatment.

The Association of Greater Manchester PCTs has funded a dedicated hepatitis C strategy, aimed at former injecting drug users. A high- impact awareness raising campaign, Back In The Day, is being run in partnership with Rock Radio, and is encouraging people to think about getting tested. The Black Health Agency is about to launch a project that will work with people already infected by hepatitis C who want to join or set up a support group.

In addition, the Yorkshire and Humber Improvement Partnership has linked up with the Health Protection Agency, NHS Yorkshire and the Humber, the National Treatment Agency and all 14 local primary care trusts to recruit a project manager to develop hepatitis C work in the region, from improved awareness and prevention through to better testing and treatment for those affected.

Further information
If you would like further information about hepatitis C you can talk to your GP. Alternatively, the following are important sources of information:

• The NHS Choices website: www.nhs.uk/hepatitisc. Helpline: 0800 0121 737
• The Hepatitis Trust, a charity that provides information and support on hepatitis C: www.heptrust.org.uk. Helpline: 0845 223 4424.
• For more information about hepatitis C in Yorkshire and the Humber contact Cathie Gillies, Hepatitis C project manager, YHIP, 07500 835557.

* The above piece is a YHIP produced article that featured in the Big Issue.