The topic of Hepatitis C has come accross this Foro a couple of times.  For those of you who may be interested in getting more educated about the virus read the following and watch the documentary THIS THURSDAY @ 7:30PM on CH (Chanel 11)

GET EDUCATED AND FIND OUT ABOUT WHAT IT IS, THE RISKS, ETC...

LGIGOLO

If you've used public transport or visited a doctor's office recently, or work in a community drug treatment centre, there's a good chance you've seen some of the posters that make up part of the ministry's public education campaign on the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). This Thursday night, you won't want to miss another key part of the campaign, which has been running since March 1: a 30-minute documentary, entitled The Silent Epidemic, airing across Ontario on CH at 7:30 p.m. (check local listings for the CH channel in your area).

"There is a huge job to do in educating the public about the risks associated with HCV and how to prevent transmission of the virus," said Yvette Thornley, senior communications advisor in the Public Education Unit of the ministry's Communications and Information Branch. "A documentary format allows for an in-depth view of a very complex issue. Interviews with medical professionals and individuals infected with HCV allow an important story to be told, while putting a human face to the disease."

People who are at risk for HCV include those who use drugs, and those who have had a tattoo or body piercing using un-sterilized equipment. In some cases, sexual activity also puts a person at risk for HCV. Past routes of transmission also include those who received blood or blood products prior to 1992, and those who may have experimented with injection drugs, even only once, many years ago.

About 75,000 people in Ontario have been diagnosed as having HCV, which does not yet have a vaccine. It is spread through contact with the blood of an infected person, and can, if untreated, cause liver cirrhosis, and in extreme cases, liver cancer. HCV spreads slowly, and can cause this liver damage over a period of 10 to 20 years often without a person even knowing they have the virus.

Medical experts estimate that in addition to those who have been diagnosed with HCV, a further 30,000 to 57,000 people in the province do not know that they are infected with the virus.

"We were very fortunate that the subjects in the film came forward to tell their stories", Thornley said. "For some, there is a real stigma attached to this disease and they are uncomfortable sharing their diagnosis. This is a very real, and in some cases, deadly disease that often falls under the radar in terms of research and treatment because people are simply not aware of just how many others are living with it. Having people on camera who actually are living with HCV really adds to the impact of the documentary."

Additional / Comprehensive information about Hepatitis C:

Hepatitis C

• What is hepatitis C?


• How is it transmitted?


• How do I protect myself from getting hepatitis C?


• How can I be affected by hepatitis C?


• What are the common symptoms?


• How is hepatitis C detected?


• If I have hepatitis C, what can I do to stay healthy?


• If I have hepatitis C, how can I prevent infecting others?


• Additional Resources

What is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that is carried in the blood and can cause severe damage to the liver. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 3% of the world's population is infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), including more than 105,000 Ontarians. However, 1/3 of those infected with HCV in Ontario have not yet been diagnosed.

How is it transmitted?

Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) which is spread by direct contact with the blood of an infected person. Situations that put people at most risk for getting hepatitis C include :

• Sharing used needles or syringes (for steroid, prescription or street drug use) or other drug using equipment such as cookers, cotton, water and crack pipes (including short-term use in the past)


• Sharing straws used for snorting


• Having received a blood transfusion or blood products prior to 1992 when sensitive tests for anti-HCV were introduced for blood screening


• Needle-stick injuries


• Non-sterile equipment used for tattooing, piercing and acupuncture

Lower risks of transmission include :

• Sexual activity that includes contact with blood or the exchange of blood


• Birth when the mother is infected with HCV

How do I protect myself from getting hepatitis C?

• Do not share needles or drug using equipment


• Wear protective gloves if you are likely to be in contact someone's blood


• Avoid blood-to-blood contact during sexual activity


• If you are getting a tattoo, body piercing or acupuncture, choose a re****ble service and ensure that only fresh, single-use, disposable needles are used and that all equipment is sterile.

How can I be affected by hepatitis C?

The hepatitis C virus is able to change repeatedly in order to fight off the body's immune system. It causes inflammation and will slowly damage the liver over a period of 10 to 20 years, often without an individual ever being aware that the virus is inside their body. Without treatment, over 80 per cent of acute HCV infections progress to chronic hepatitis C, a long-term, progressive condition that can lead to liver disease, including cirrhosis and in some cases cancer.

What are the common symptoms?

Although some people may experience symptoms following infection, most have no symptoms at all. Because the disease progresses slowly, symptoms can appear many years after infection. Symptoms could include :

• Jaundice (skin or eyes turn yellow)


• Generalized itching

See your health care provider if symptoms of hepatitis C develop, or if you believe you have been exposed to the hepatitis C virus.

How is hepatitis C detected?

If you think you may have been exposed to the hepatitis C virus based on the risk factors listed above, ask your health care provider to test you. If the results are positive, your health care provider may order a second test to confirm that the virus is really in your blood. If you are infected, talk to your health care provider about treatment options.

If I have hepatitis C, what can I do to stay healthy?

Make sure you get plenty of rest and avoid alcohol. Even moderate amounts of alcohol will speed up the progression of hepatitis C and reduce the effectiveness of drugs you may be taking to combat the disease. You should also talk to your health care provider about hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccination.

If I have hepatitis C, how can I prevent infecting others?

• Do not donate blood, organs for transplants or semen for artificial insemination


• Do not share razors, toothbrushes, manicure or pedicure equipment


• If you use drugs, do not share needles or other drug-related equipment


• Always tell health care providers who may be exposed to your blood that you have hepatitis C


• Avoid blood-to-blood contact during sexual activity

Additional Resources

• Canadian Liver Foundation


• Public Health Agency of Canada


• Canadian Hepatitis C Information Centre


• Hemophilia Ontario