The outreach services program manager at Timmins and District Hospital says the region has higher rates of Hepatitis C than the rest of the province.
Patrick Nowak says those numbers are a concern but believes that the Liver Health Team that’s in place can help reduce those numbers in the next five years.
“We have an RN, we have clerical support, an outreach worker, so we do offer testing for Hepatitis C,” he said. “If they are from out of town then we can look at getting that person a lab to take to their local laboratory, once the medication is prescribed we can have that delivered.”
Hepatitis C is a blood-to-blood contact infection caused by using dirty needles in drug use or sexual activity.
He notes that people don’t notice the symptoms until the damage is done.
“When the initial infection happens it can be very simple to something like a flu or some sort of common illness,” he said. “Then it would kind of subside and remain the body for years and years.”
Novak says left untreated Hepatitis C can lead to other diseases like liver failure or cancer, but adds medication can help treat the infection.
