19th May 2010 By Alison Lock
Surrey doctors are raising awareness about Hepatitis to mark World Hepatitis Day.
NHS Surrey is urging people who may be at risk from either Hepatitus B or C to get tested or vaccinated as both cause liver damage but present only flu-like symptoms so are often mistaken for other illnesses.
Both strains can be spread through blood and Hepatitis B through bodily fluids.
Sources of infection include unprotected sex, tattooing or body piercing and sharing razors or needles.
Dr Ruth Milton, NHS Surrey's director of public health, said: “If you are at risk of Hep B, the best way of protecting yourself is to get vaccinated.”
The Hep B vaccine can be obtained from GPs, sexual health or genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics.
There is no Hep C vaccine but it can be treated.
The Hepatitis C Trust's Get Tested bus visited Frimley Park Hospital to offer on-the-spot tests on Wednesday (May 19).
