What’s The Big Deal with Hepatitis C?

Often known as the silent killer, as many infected are asymptomatic, Hepatitis C is a bloodborne infection that leads to inflammation of the liver caused by the Hepatitis C virus.

And it’s more common than you think. Globally, it claims 290,000 deaths a year. World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 1.5 million new infections annually, but only 13% have been treated.[1]

For some, Hepatitis C is a short-term illness, but for others, it can become a long-term, chronic infection which can lead to serious, even deadly health problems like cirrhosis and liver cancer if left untreated.

Most importantly, 3 out of 4 infectants have absolutely no clue they have contracted the virus.[2] Those with long-term chronic infection won’t show symptoms for years, and even decades.

There are a lot of stigmas surrounding the virus, but it can infect anyone especially high-risk groups of people who have been in contact with blood from an infected person. Today, most infections occur from shared injection needles, unsafe needle usage, unscreened blood transfusions, and sexual practices that lead to exposure to blood.

Hepatitis C can be a scary diagnosis and while the treatments are very effective, they can be expensive. The good news is that affordable treatment is available, and it is accessible in Malaysia. It comes in the form of direct-acting antiviral drugs (ie., Velpatasvir and Ravidasvir, etc), which offers a safe and effective antiviral treatment (minimal to no side effects) for Hepatitis C. This suite of medications can be tailored according to each patient’s needs (i.e., genotype, etc.), recording up to 97% in cure rate, and 93% in cost savings.

Check out Malaysia as the Hepatitis C Treatment Hub of Asia

Take charge of your health and raise awareness to Test, Treat, and Cure because Hepatitis Can’t Wait.

TL;DR

Hepatitis C is affecting huge chunks of the population, but people are not aware about it and know even less about getting treatment or testing. Malaysia has affordable and safe testing, treatment, and cure. Reach out here to get started.

[1] World Health Organization

[2] https://malaysiahealthcare.org/no-symptom-no-problem-why-hepatitis-c-is-scarier-than-you-think/