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Half of UK Students at Risk
of Silent Time Bomb Disease
31st October, London, UK:
Results from a survey announced today show that
half of British students may be exposing
themselves to the deadly hepatitis C virus by
engaging in ‘risky’ activities, such as sharing
banknotes or straws when snorting drugs, getting
a tattoo or piercing and sharing razors and
toothbrushes.
The survey, conducted at
Fresher’s Weeks around the UK (London,
Edinburgh, Brighton, Manchester, Nottingham),
also found that two in three admit to ignorance
about the hepatitis C virus or they have no idea
what the symptoms of hepatitis C are. In
comparison seven in ten claim to know quite a
lot about sexually transmitted diseases such as
HIV, Chlamydia and herpes.
“For parents who have just sent
their children off to University this is
worrying news,” said Charles Gore, Chief
Executive of leading UK charity, The Hepatitis C
Trust. “Young people are putting themselves at
risk and they seem completely unaware of the
dangers associated with their behaviour.”
Hepatitis C virus is a major
cause of acute hepatitis and chronic liver
disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer .
Approximately 500,000 people in the UK are
thought to living with the disease , six times
more than those living with HIV . Of these, 90%
don’t even know that they are infected with the
disease .
The Hepatitis C Trust, which
runs the “What Not To Share” campaign, is
calling for greater awareness: “We don’t want to
tell students not to have fun at university,
just be smart about it. Through our campaign, we
want to educate young people about the risk
factors of hepatitis C and encourage those who
may have engaged in risky behaviour in the past
to get tested,” Mr Gore commented.
Below are top tips for students
starting their university life on “What Not To
Share”:
- Use your own toothbrush or
razor – and personalise it so no one else can
borrow it
- If you get a tattoo or piercing, go to a
reputable outlet and make sure the needle is new
out of the packet
- And remember, sharing bank notes or straws to
snort substances can transmit the hepatitis C
virus
About “What Not To Share”
“What Not To Share” is a
prevention/awareness campaign drawing attention
to the dangers of transmitting this dangerous
virus. It has a simple message: Don’t share
anything that could come into contact with
blood, such as razors, toothbrushes,
notes/straws for snorting drugs or any of the
paraphernalia involved in intravenous drug
injecting. Much of the new infection occurs in
people in their 20s and members of the music
business have been working closely with The
Hepatitis C Trust to make the campaign relevant
to this group.
Prevention is better than cure.
This is especially true in the case of hepatitis
C where ‘cure’ is still only possible in about
half of those infected.
If you are at all concerned that
you may have been exposed to hepatitis C or have
symptoms that may be attributed to hepatitis C –
please call The Hepatitis C Trust HELPLINE on
0845 223 4424 for more information.
About hepatitis C in the UK
Hepatitis C, one of the most
common chronic blood-borne infections, is
transmitted primarily through blood or blood
products. Hepatitis C can be passed by piercing,
tattoos, transfusion, injection, razors, sharing
toothbrushes, dental work and by sharing notes.
Whether it is coke, speed, ketamine or smack,
these powders or something they are cut with,
can corrode the inside of the nose and cause a
nose-bleed. Sharing notes or straws with someone
else’s blood on it carries serious risk. You do
not even need to see blood on a note for the
virus to be transmitted and it can survive
outside the body and remain infectious for some
time. Hepatitis C is a highly destructive
disease. Day to day symptoms vary from general
fatigue, to flu-like feelings through to
digestive issues, joint pains, mood swings and
depression. Hepatitis C can remain undetected
for 20 years without showing symptoms but it can
still be causing liver damage.
For more information please
contact:
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