World Hepatitis Day is this week and the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit are asking if you know your status.
On July 28th an international focus will be placed on raising public awareness about viral hepatitis. This year Canada’s slogan for the day is “Know your status? Get tested – Learn your options”. The health unit urges everyone to learn about risk factors involved with hepatitis B and C, as well as the need for testing if they think they might be infected.
Viral Hepatitis affects more than half a million Canadians and over 5 hundred million around the world. Many carriers are unaware they have the disease and pass it unwittingly to others. Hepatitis B&C are both spread by exposure to contaminated blood or bodily fluids containing blood but can also spread by: sharing needles or pipes, unsterile body piercing or tattoo equipment and personal hygiene items like razors.
The health unit says hepatitis has been incorrectly stigmatized as an IV drug-user, alcoholic and sexually transmitted disease. Few people realize it only takes blood-to-blood transmission to pass the affliction on.
The health unit add that treatments are available and if you think you may be at risk, ask to be tested. For more information visit http://www.catie.ca/en/whd.