Thousands of Britons have been infected with hepatitis C without realising after travelling abroad for tattoos, piercings or cosmetic procedures, a report has warned.
The virus can cause liver failure and liver cancer if left untreated, but often goes undetected as people can go for years without any symptoms.
New analysis suggests that 70,000 adults in England currently have undiagnosed hepatitis C, which is usually spread through traces of blood found on non-sterilised needles, with most cases in intravenous drug-users.
Some 2,500 of these undiagnosed cases are estimated to be in those who have visited tattoo or piercing parlours while on holiday, where infection controls may be below UK standards.
Doctors have also warned of a growing risk among people who have travelled abroad for cheap dental work, cosmetic surgery or other medical procedures. Those who have received other medical care, such as after an accident or injury on holiday, may also be at risk.
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The NHS is urging anyone who is concerned about a foreign medical procedure, however long ago it took place, to order a free at-home hepatitis C test.
The new self-testing kit, developed in partnership with diagnostics firm Preventx, requires a simple finger prick blood sample that is posted to a lab for analysis, with results in days.
Dr Vanessa Apea, medical director at Preventx and an NHS consultant, said: “Anyone who is worried that they might have hepatitis C should get a test.
“It could have been unknowingly acquired abroad, in unsterile settings during medical procedures or even through tattoos or piercings.
“Hepatitis C can be symptomless for many years and if untreated it can lead to liver disease and cancer. If you do test positive, treatment is extremely safe and effective, and you can be cured with a simple course of tablets.”
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She added: “We’ve seen in other disease areas such as HIV, that at-home testing can be an effective way in which to get more people testing. Improving uptake is vital to eliminating hepatitis C as a major public health issue.”
Rachel Halford, chief executive of The Hepatitis C Trust, said: “Around 70,000 people in England have hepatitis C, many of whom do not know it. Although someone may not have experienced any noticeable symptoms, hepatitis C can be like a ticking time bomb in the body, causing liver damage for years without being detected.
“The virus is spread via blood-to-blood contact and so we would encourage anyone that has ever had a tattoo abroad, from someone that doesn’t hold a licence, or in prison, to order a hepatitis C test from the NHS.”
Hepatitis C often does not have any noticeable symptoms until the liver has been significantly damaged. With modern treatments, it is usually possible to cure the infection.
Mo Goolamallee, 55, from London was diagnosed with hepatitis C this year. He contracted the virus aged 20 after having a motorbike accident and needing emergency medical treatment while on holiday with friends in Sri Lanka.
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The father-of-one said: “When you go on holiday you want to have fun. It never occurred to me that I might come back with hep C. My accident was just one of those things. I hadn’t thought about it for years and never had any symptoms. I’ve always been active and taken part in lots of sports, and I’ve always felt healthy. In January this year I had an accident at the gym and had to go to the hospital. When I was being checked over, the doctors did some extra tests and it turned out I had hepatitis C. I was shocked.”
The NHS has launched a drive to eliminate hepatitis C, by testing more people for the disease. Over the past five years more than 70,000 people have been cured of the disease, and deaths from hepatitis C have fallen by 35 per cent as a result.
Mark Gillyon-Powell, head of the NHS England elimination programme, said: “We are making incredible progress towards hepatitis C elimination and are on track to eliminate the virus as a public health threat by 2030. Reaching this milestone will rank among the most significant successes in UK healthcare.
“Key to achieving this aim is getting more people to test so if you think you may be at risk please come forward and get a free and discreet test today.”
People over 18 in England can order a free finger-prick at-home testing kit online here.
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Patients can also access testing through their doctor or sexual health or drug treatment service.
