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Hepatitis C is primarily transmitted through exposure to blood carrying the virus, with one common route being the sharing of needles among infected individuals. Blood donations undergo rigorous screening to prevent the transmission of this infection through transfusions. Often referred to as a silent illness, hepatitis C typically presents no symptoms during the initial stages, making early detection challenging. If left untreated, the disease can lead to severe liver damage, which can be life-threatening.
Since 2015, NHS England has successfully diagnosed and treated more than 100,000 people for hepatitis C, fulfilling one of its major public health targets. However, a separate objective aiming for a 65% reduction in deaths related to hepatitis C compared to 2015 levels has not yet been achieved but is expected to be met before the 2030 deadline. Current statistics from 2024 indicate that approximately 50,200 adults in England are living with hepatitis C, and about 84.6% of these individuals have been diagnosed. This diagnosis rate is close to, but not quite at, the goal of identifying 90% of cases.
The Hepatitis C Trust describes England’s progress as being “on the cusp” of a historic public health success. Prof Frankie Swords, the NHS national medical director, emphasized England’s leadership role globally in efforts to eliminate hepatitis C, stating, “England is now leading the world in the mission to eliminate this disease and on course to beat the WHO’s 2030 target, but we are determined to keep up the momentum and finish the job.” He also encouraged those at higher risk to get tested by using free and confidential home-testing kits available online.
In particular, adults born in countries such as Ukraine, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Albania, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Czechia, or Slovakia are strongly advised to undergo testing. This caution arises from the possibility that some individuals may have contracted the virus through medical or dental treatments carried out before 1991. People can conveniently order a free NHS home self-testing kit without the need for a GP consultation, allowing for privacy and easy access to testing
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