NHS England reports significant progress in treating hepatitis C, with the country aiming to meet World Health Organization elimination targets by 2030.
Key facts
- •More than 100,000 people have received treatment for hepatitis C in England since 2015.
- •Approximately 50,200 adults in England are currently living with the virus.
- •The current diagnosis rate is 84.6%, nearing the 90% target.
- •NHS England is offering free, confidential home-testing kits that do not require a GP consultation.
- •The Hepatitis C Trust described the progress as one of the most significant public health achievements in the country's history.
NHS England has announced that the country is on track to eliminate hepatitis C, potentially meeting World Health Organization targets before 2030. Since 2015, over 100,000 people have been diagnosed and treated for the virus. While a goal to reduce hepatitis C-related mortality by 65% compared to 2015 levels remains unmet, officials believe it is achievable within the next few years.
By the numbers
Current Prevalence and Testing
As of 2024, approximately 50,200 adults in England are living with hepatitis C. Current estimates suggest that 84.6% of these individuals have been diagnosed, falling slightly short of the 90% target. The virus, which is transmitted through contact with infected blood, is often asymptomatic in its early stages and can lead to severe liver damage if left untreated. The NHS is encouraging individuals at higher risk to utilize free, confidential home-testing kits available online. Specifically, adults born in Albania, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, or Ukraine are urged to test, as they may have been exposed to the virus through medical or dental procedures performed before 1991.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Health.
