England is “on the cusp” of becoming one of the first countries globally to eradicate hepatitis C, health officials have said.
Efforts such as A&E blood tests, GP registration testing, and free home test kits have helped identify individuals who were previously undiagnosed.
Global health leaders have set out plans aimed at eliminating viral hepatitis across the world by 2030.
NHS England stated that the nation is among a small number of countries worldwide to have already beaten the World Health Organisation benchmark of treating 80% of all known cases.
It added that deaths associated with the virus have fallen by 36% over the past 10 years.
Hepatitis C is transmitted via contact with infected blood.
Many people have no symptoms but if it is not treated it can cause serious, and potentially life-threatening, liver damage.
A treatment course of antiviral drugs for eight to 12 weeks cures more than 95% of cases.
NHS England said that since 2015, more than 100,000 people have been diagnosed and treated for hepatitis C.
Source: The Independent, 11 August 2026
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