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Health and Beauty: Busting the myths about hepatitis C

By Diane Crabtree

THE chances are we all know someone infected by hepatitis C.

So say the experts. The only problem is that many people don't even know they've got it.

And because the illness carries a stigma, many sufferers who know they have it, don't even tell their friends and family, let alone talk about it in public.

New research commissioned by the Department of Health backs this. It shows that around a third of people living in Yorkshire and Humber don't know that hepatitis C can only be passed on through blood to blood contact.

Now a major awareness campaign aims to reach out to an estimated 100,000 people in England who are unaware they have the infection and prevent others getting it.

It has the support of 55-year-old sufferer Stephen Barker of Hebden Bridge who is the chairman of the Peacock Project, a support group based in Calderdale and Kirklees.

Stephen was diagnosed in 1991 and believes the route of infection was either sharing needles when he was 16, or one of his tattoos. He says there are more than 2,000 known sufferers in this area, but figures are very conservative and thousands more local men and women will have the virus without realising it.

The Peacock Project is a drop-in centre which is open every two weeks. It is based in Huddersfield, but is moving back to Calderdale, where it started, next month, based at the Brunswick Centre, Halifax.

"We are the only support group in this area and get people coming to us from Bradford and Leeds as well as Calderdale and Kirklees. We have our own specialist nurse and are here to help sufferers and their friends and families."

Hepatitis C is a infectious disease caused by a virus which affects the liver.

An estimated 170 million people worldwide are infected and no vaccine is available at this time.

Celebrities who have gone public to encourage more people to get tested for the disease include Pamela Anderson, Natalie Cole, the late Anita Roddick, David Crosby and Marianne Faithfull.

The campaign coincides with the 20th anniversary of the virus being identified. Radio and press advertising will remind us all of life experiences that could have exposed us to infection such as injecting drugs or getting tattoos where equipment may not have been sterile.

Chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson says: "Around 100,000 people in England are estimated to be unaware that they have hepatitis C. It can take years or even decades for symptoms to appear, if at all, and if left untreated can lead to liver damage and premature death.

Charles Gore, chief executive of the Hepatitis C Trust and president of the World Hepatitis Alliance says "Twenty years down the line, it's worrying to see the public still believe so many myths around hepatitis C. Education is absolutely essential to eradicating this problem. We are pleased to see the Department of Health campaigning on this issue, but it's now time for both the public and health professionals to take action.

We’d urge anyone who feels they might be at risk to get tested, and health professionals to be vigilant to diagnosing patients.”

The Peacock Project – call 01422 438721 or log on at peacockproject.hepc.co.uk. The Hepatitis C Trust helpline is 0845 223 4424. Further information from nhs.uk/hepc or confidential information and advice, from the Hepatitis C Information Line on 0800 181 4114 (textphone 0800 0850859).