England is on track to become one of the first countries in the world to eliminate hepatitis C, a dangerous virus that attacks the liver, according to recent figures. The target of treating 80% of all known cases has already been met, and deaths from the virus have declined by 36% over the past decade, bringing us close to achieving the necessary goals by 2030.
Antiviral tablets taken for 8 to 12 weeks can cure more than 95% of cases. Initiatives such as blood tests in Accident & Emergency departments, testing during GP registrations, and free at-home testing kits have helped identify many individuals who were previously undiagnosed, according to NHS England.
Silent disease
Hepatitis C is transmitted through contact with infected blood, most commonly via shared needles. Donated blood is routinely screened to prevent transmission. Often described as a “silent disease,” it typically shows no symptoms until much later stages. Without treatment, it can lead to severe and potentially life‑threatening liver damage.
Since 2015, NHS England has diagnosed and treated more than 100,000 people with hepatitis C, achieving one of its major targets. Another goal—a 65% reduction in hepatitis C‑related deaths compared with 2015 levels—has not yet been reached, though it may be achieved before the 2030 deadline. Current figures suggest that around 50,200 adults in England are living with hepatitis C as of 2024. Of these, 84.6% have been diagnosed, just short of the 90% target.
The Hepatitis C Trust has described England as being “on the cusp” of one of the most significant public health milestones in the nation’s history. Professor Frankie Swords, NHS national medical director, stated: “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. We are committed to finding and treating everyone who needs support and would urge those at greater risk to come forward by ordering a free and confidential home‑testing kit online.”
Adults born in Ukraine, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Albania, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Czechia or Slovakia are particularly urged to test, as some may have been infected through medical or dental procedures before 1991. People can order a free, confidential NHS home self-testing kit without needing to speak to a GP.
Paul Eatwell, 65, was diagnosed after a routine blood test. The grandfather from Blackburn, Lancashire, said: “My first reaction was disbelief. I remember saying: ‘Are you sure? Surely there’s been some mistake. “I didn’t feel ill. I kept wondering how I could possibly have caught it.” He says the medical support he received made a huge difference. While it has not been established how Eatwell caught the virus, it has been suggested that surgery in South Africa decades ago may have been the cause.
Source: BBC
