HULL HAS ONE OF 'HIGHEST RATES'

MOBILE units will be deployed to Hull, East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire to test residents for Hepatitis C.

- By ROB CURRELL

Taking a proactive approach to screening the disease and finding it the early stages means less pressure later on the NHS from long-term health problems such as liver damage, cirrhosis and cancer. The disease is curable if caught early but left untreated it can lead to other health issues.

Hull is believed to have one of the highest rates of the bloodborne virus in the nation — as revealed by the NHS Humber Health Partnership. The health partnership, is made up of several organisations including Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust.

According to the partnership, Hepatitis C is a 'hidden virus' with many people unaware they have it. They added that more than 4,900 people had been tested locally over the past three years — with about 15% found to be antibody positive.

Kasey P, Assistant Business Support Manager for NHS Humber Health Partnership said: "One of our main challenges in tackling Hepatitis C is to promote greater understanding of what it is and how it's contracted.