Posted: 27-Sep-2006 << BACK
Sir Bob Warns On Liver Virus - StaffNurse.com September 26th 2006
Big variations in national attitudes to hepatitis C infection pose a major threat to world health, campaigner Sir Bob Geldof warned yesterday.
Sir Bob teamed up with the World Health Organisations European office to call on governments to take the virus more seriously.
A WHO study has found that only Britain, France, Sweden and Holland have national strategies for preventing and treating hepatitis.
The study of 15 European countries found evidence of discrimination against people with hepatitis in ten of them.
And only France and Holland have government-sponsored screening programmes.
Sir Bob said: "Stigma, shame and fear can suffocate awareness. These barriers prevent people from getting tested, receiving treatment and clearing themselves of this disease.
"The thing about the hepatitis C virus is that it does not cause any obvious symptoms. People can be infected with the virus for years and not know. This has led to people calling it a silent disease. The good news is that hepatitis C can actually be cured in many people.
"Seek advice from your doctor and ask about the risk factors for hepatitis C."
WHO Europe director Dr Marc Danzon said: "Controlling hepatitis poses a significant challenge in the 21st century, and the number of people developing serious liver disease as a result of these viral infections continues to rise.
"WHO Europe, along with many other partners, is concerned about the high levels of infection, which in some areas of the world can be classified as highly endemic."
