WHAD LogoWorld Hepatitis Day 2008 (WHD)

Hepatitis B and C are  still around

May 19th will see over 200 patient groups from around the UK, Europe and the World take part in the first truly global Awareness Day for hepatitis B and C.

2006 saw the number of confirmed Hepatitis C infections in England rise to 8,346; 10% higher than in 2005. The Health Protection Agency has suggested that the effort to raise awareness of Hepatitis C is indeed encouraging more people to be tested.

Professor Pete Borriello, Director of the Health Protection Agency's Centre for Infections, said:

"The improved public awareness we are seeing for Hepatitis C represents a marked change to the position we were in just a few years ago. This is good news. The increase in testing and diagnosis of infection will enable more people to gain access to the appropriate treatment and help reduce some of the severe complications of hepatitis that can occur, such as liver cancer. However, there is no room for complacency. Despite the increase in awareness and diagnosis of Hepatitis C, there is still some considerable way to go if the burden of this infection is to be reduced in the future.”  

This proves that this campaign and others like it, actually work and agencies like Eddystone must continue to highlight the viruses as much as possible, even though no direct funding is currently received.

Eddystone will, as always, be taking part in the campaign, however not on the grand scale as in previous years. We are hoping that many of you will want to do something on the day itself to raise awareness.  If so, and you need resources, please contact either Sarah or Sue J at the Plymouth office 01752 257077, before Wednesday 14th May 

So let’s just remind ourselves of a few facts around Hepatitis C:

  • Injecting drug use remains the single most important reported risk factor for acquiring Hepatitis C infection
  • In 2006, around 94% of current injectors reported recent use of a needle exchange service, but harm reduction advice received was variable
  • There is no vaccination for Hepatitis C
  • Most people infected with the virus don't know they have it.  The virus can lie undetected in an infected person for years
  • Symptoms can include: mild to severe fatigue; alcohol intolerance; concentration problems (‘brain fog’); anxiety; loss of appetite; pain in the liver area; nausea

Facts about Hepatitis B: 

  • HBV is one hundred times more infectious than HIV
  • Approximately 2 billion people worldwide have been exposed to Hepatitis B, with 350 million chronic carriers reported
  • Globally, the major mode of Hepatitis B infection is perinatal transmission
  • In the UK, among adults with a known likely source of infection, injecting drug use is the most reported risk factor, followed by sexual contact
  • There is a vaccine for hepatitis B and has been since 1982
  • By having the vaccine you will also be protected against Hepatitis D
  • Since April 2000 all pregnant women in the UK are offered a screening for HBV

 

 


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