UK targets hepatitis C detection:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
A hepatitis C public health campaign has been launched in England, with the main aim of encouraging testing to help detect the more than 100,000 cases thought to remain undiagnosed. The "FaCe It" campaign will run for two years and will be aimed particularly at those people who are, or have been, at higher risk of contracting the hepatitis C virus (HCV), in order to advise them about getting tested. There are approximately 200,000 people chronically infected from HCV, yet the majority of these are unaware of their infection, says the Department of Health. The value of testing for this chronic disease is that it is largely asymptomatic and can develop into potentially serious conditions, yet is responsive to treatment in about 55% of cases.