What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a virus that can infect and damage the liver. In most cases it causes no noticeable symptoms until the liver has been damaged. The hepatitis C virus is found in the blood of someone with hepatitis C infection and is usually passed on through blood-to-blood contact such as by sharing razors or toothbrushes, or by sharing unsterilised needles.
Hepatitis C is more common in certain parts of the world, including South Asia, and this is thought to result from cultural practices such the use of shared needles for vaccination or not adequately sterilising other surgical instruments for medical treatment.
As hepatitis C often causes no obvious symptoms, testing is offered to people who may be at risk, such as people of South Asian origin.
Hepatitis C infections can usually be treated. The sooner treatment begins after catching the hepatitis C virus, the more likely it is to work.
People can ask for testing through their GP, or testing can be arranged through a sexual health or drug treatment clinic.
Testing for Hepatitis C in Manchester
There are estimated to be over 2,000 people of South Asian origin in Greater Manchester who are infected with hepatitis C, so the Hepatitis C Trust are organising hepatitis C awareness raising and testing events for South Asian communities in Greater Manchester in July 2015.
Advice, information and free testing will be offered to people at risk of hepatitis C on:
• Friday 24 July 2015, 10am-4pm at the Madina Mosque in Levenshulme
• Saturday 25 - Sunday 26 July 2015, 12noon-7.30pm at Manchester Mega Mela, Platt Fields Park, Rusholme
For further information about hepatitis C or for more information on these events, visit: www.hepctrust.org.uk, telephone the Hepatitis C Trust helpline on 0845 223 4424 or 020 7089 6221 (open 10.30am-4.30pm Monday to Friday), or email: [email protected]