Posted: 26-Sep-2006 << BACK
Hepatitis timebomb - You can download a copy of the action plan at the bottom of this page
Evening Telegraph and Post
Thousands of people in Tayside are thought to be unknowingly part of a hidden Hepatitis C timebomb, a Dundee-based liver specialist warned today, writes Graeme Strachan. Dr John Dillon, a consultant hepatologist at Ninewells Hospital, told the Telegraph its estimated up to 5000 people in the region are infected with the virus but only 1700 have so far been diagnosed. That means thousands in Tayside have no idea that they have contracted Hepatitis C putting themselves and their loved ones at risk of dying needlessly as the virus goes unchecked and untreated.
The Scottish Executive today announced a 4 million action plan to tackle the virus. Tayside has been awarded over a quarter of a million pounds over the next two years to tackle Hepatitis C and reduce the number of new cases.
The Plan aims to put in place mechanisms to ensure better co-ordination, planning and accountability of Hepatitis C-related services and build on existing activities and interventions to reduce the number of new cases in Scotland.
A further 314,000 has also been allocated to an Executive-led campaign, which will focus on improving knowledge among professionals to ensure that the people and their families affected by Hepatitis C get the support they need and access to the best treatment and care available.
Welcoming todays funding announcement, Dr Dillon encouraged people to get tested to find out if they are part of the hidden time bomb.
The funding is to be welcomed and the Action Plan with its clear lines of accountability and responsibility and what we have got to achieve over the next two years, he said. We estimate there are 4,000-5,000 people infected with the virus in Tayside but only 1,700 have been diagnosed so its very much an epidemic.
This is a very slow virus that affects people over 20 years, slowly destroying the liver.
The first thing they may notice is vomiting or turning yellow, and, often, by that stage its too late.
Early diagnosis can prevent long-term complications. Theres still a lot of work to do but this funding will supplement work we are already doing and help us get to people faster.
Dr Dillon said former injecting drug users over 35 were most at risk.
Approximately one-third of infected people reside in Greater Glasgow, one third in Lothian, Grampian and Tayside and one third in other NHS Board areas. Two-thirds are male and the vast majority are aged less than 50. Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that now affects more than 200 million people worldwide. Although between 20 and 25 per cent of those who are infected clear the virus naturally, between 60 and 80 per cent become chronically infected.
Health Minister Andy Kerr said, Hepatitis C is a significant public health problem, not only in Scotland but world-wide that cannot be ignored.
The first Hepatitis C Action Plan published today will tackle this issue head-on.
We want to reduce future spread of Hepatitis C by increasing awareness and in turn, improve the care and treatment available to patients.
We have set out a range of actions that NHS Boards, the voluntary sector, Health Protection Scotland and other professionals will take forward over two years. These actions will allow great strides to be made in improving the co-ordination of services, prevention, diagnosis, understanding and treatment of the virus.
An estimated 50,000 people living in Scotland are infected with Hepatitis C for which there is currently no vaccine to protect against. Scotland has the highest prevalence of the virus in the UK and that is why the prevention of new infections is so important. Early diagnosis of the virus will reduce transmission to others, limit the rate of liver damage and prevent long-term complications.
Rates are particularly high among former and current injecting drug users and testing is particularly important for this group. Action will be focused on making more information available to them on the risks of transmission and increasing the availability of needles, to prevent sharing.
This funding has been distributed to NHS Boards based on the incidence and prevalence of Hepatitis C in their NHS Board area. In addition to the new funding announced today NHS Boards currently receive over 8.6m to prevent the spread of bloodborne viruses including Hepatitis C and HIV.
Professor David Goldberg, Health Protection Scotland said, This is a visionary Plan of Action which recognises that Hepatitis C poses one of Scotland's greatest public health challenges and addresses the need to review strategy and resources relating to the prevention and diagnosis of, and clinical care of persons with, the infection.
Mr Dave Liddell, Scottish Drugs Forum said, We welcome the launch of the HCV Action Plan as an important first step in ensuring that those with HCV receive effective care and treatment and we must do all we can to limit new HCV infections.
Injecting drug use remains the main route of spread of the virus therefore we particularly welcome the focus on increasing the availability of injecting equipment.
Attachment: Scottish Action Plan 26 9 06.pdf
