It is estimated that one out of 100 Canadians have had Hepatitis C in their lifetime, and many are unaware they have it.
In an effort to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, Réseau ACCESS Network offered on-the-spot screening for Hepatitis C as part of World Hepatitis Day on July 30.
More than 200 people stopped by the event, which was held at Memorial Park. Réseau ACCESS Network outreach testing nurse Dominica Anderson said 25 Hepatitis C tests were conducted by 1 p.m.
"It's just a finger poke, it's super easy," Anderson said. "If the test does come back as positive, we book a follow-up appointment for a full-length discussion in our office and set them up with a treatment plan."
Anderson said treatment is much easier now.
"On average, it's one pill a day for 12 weeks."
If gone untreated, Hepatitis C can lead to liver failure and liver cancer.
"We've seen a large increase in individuals in their 50s and 60s who may not have been exposed to high-risk transmission routes in the last 20 years that they can recall and they are now coming back and doing testing and being positive,” she said.
“That's a lot of years and potential damage done to the liver which leads to cirrhosis over time, your liver can harden and shrink.
“The liver's job is to clear toxins from the body and if it doesn't have that opportunity to do that, the toxins can go other places and affect other organs and eventually the person can get very sick."
Blood that is infected with Hep C can get into your body through sharing drug-use equipment, having unprotected sex where blood is present, skin-breaking activities like tattoos, acupuncture, body jewelry, as well as sharing toothbrushes, razors, dental floss and nail clippers.
"It's always good to get tested, even once,” Anderson said. "It's just a little prick."
