England is on track to become one of the first countries to eliminate hepatitis C, a virus that attacks the liver. The target of treating 80% of known cases has already been met, and deaths from the virus have fallen by 36% in the last decade. Taking antiviral tablets for 8 to 12 weeks can cure more than 95% of cases. NHS England reports that since 2015, more than 100,000 people have been diagnosed and treated for hepatitis C. Another goal - a 65% reduction in hepatitis C-related mortality compared with 2015 levels - has yet to be met, but might be achieved before the 2030 target date. Around 50,200 adults are living with hepatitis C in England as of 2024. The Hepatitis C Trust says England is 'on the cusp' of one of the most significant public health achievements in the country's history. Prof Frankie Swords, NHS national medical director, stated: 'England is now leading the world in the mission to eliminate this disease and on course to beat the WHO's 2030 target.' Adults born in Ukraine, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Albania, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Czechia or Slovakia are particularly urged to test, as some may have been infected through medical or dental procedures before 1991. People can order a free, confidential NHS home self-testing kit without needing to speak to a GP.

Paul Eatwell, 65, was diagnosed after a routine blood test in Blackburn, Lancashire. He said: 'My first reaction was disbelief. I remember saying: Are you sure? Surely there's been some mistake?' While it has not been established how Eatwell caught the virus, it has been suggested that surgery in South Africa decades ago may have been the cause.

From 1970 to 1991, more than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C from contaminated blood products and fusions. About 3,000 have since died and more deaths will follow. A public inquiry found authorities covered up the scandal and exposed victims to unacceptable risks.