1,000 cases of Hepatitis-C diagnosed annually
Over 1,000 new cases of Hepatitis-C are diagnosed in Finland annually. More than half of those infected are between the ages 20 and 29 and live in the metropolitan Helsinki region.
Young people are largely unaware of Hepatitis-C which causes chronic liver disease. Transmitted by blood, the infectious virus is the largest cause of liver disease in the western world.
Intravenous drug use is the major path of infection for a majority Hepatitis-C cases. So called “underground” tattoos and piercings, blood transfusions abroad and unprotected sex can also spread the infection. The disease is usually without symptoms in its early stage.
Almost 30,000 people in Finland carry the disease. An estimated 180 million people carry Hepatitis-C worldwide. No preventive vaccine is available for the infection.
Saturday is World Hepatitis Day with campaigns aimed at promoting awareness of both Hepatitis-B and C.
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