New Zealanders at risk of hepatitis C should make sure to get a quick and easy finger-prick test on World Hepatitis Day Thursday July 28, says Dr Nick Chamberlain, National Director of Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand National Public Health Service.

'Most people with hepatitis C can be cured by a simple oral treatment that is free with just a prescription.

'Around 40,000-45,000 New Zealanders are living with chronic hepatitis C. While some people with hepatitis C experience unusual tiredness, joint pain, loss of appetite, nausea and abdominal pain, many people don't notice any symptoms until irreparable damage has occurred.

'If left untreated, up to a quarter of people with hepatitis C will develop cirrhosis, which can progress to life-threatening liver cancer or liver failure,” says Dr Nick Chamberlain.

'More than 200 New Zealanders continue to die from hepatitis C each year. Many of these deaths could have been prevented by earlier diagnosis and treatment because hepatitis C is now ‘easy test, easy cure'.

'I strongly urge anyone at risk of hepatitis C to get tested even if you don't have any symptoms.

'There are lots of places you can get a hepatitis C finger-prick test including some pharmacies, Kaupapa Māori health providers and needle exchanges, plus there are mobile services visiting key locations. You can find out where to get a hepatitis C test by visiting the Ministry of Health website or by asking your GP.

'You'll get your test results within minutes and they're 100 percent confidential – no questions asked.

'If you do test positive, there's an easy cure called Maviret that is taken orally for about 8-12 weeks. It's free with a prescription and has a success rate of up to 98 percent.”

You are at risk of hepatitis C if you:

• have ever injected drugs or shared equipment
• have ever received a tattoo or body piercing using unsterile equipment
• had a blood product transfusion before 1992
• have ever lived in a high-risk country or received medical treatment there
• have ever been in prison
• were born to a mother with hepatitis C.

Key locations where hepatitis C testing is available on Thursday, World Hepatitis Day, include:

• pharmacies across Northland and Auckland
• Wellington City Mission, 19 Gordon Place, Newtown (1.30-2.30pm)
• He Waka Tapu, 161 Pages Rd, Wainoni, Christchurch (1-3pm)
• Huntly West Pharmacy, 4 Bridge Street, Huntly
• Gordon's Pharmacy, 1 Mangapapa Road, Gisborne
• Vivian Street Pharmacy, 95 Vivian Street, New Plymouth
• Anglesea Pharmacy, 9 Thackeray Street, Hamilton
• Mount Medical Centre, 257 Maunganui Road, Mt Maunganui
• Te Korowai General Practices in:
  • Coromandel (225 Kapanga Road)
  • Thames (210 Richmnd Street)
  • Whitianga (2 Cghill Street)
  • Paeroa (43 Belmont Road)
  • Te Aroha (221 Whitaker Street)
• Needle exchanges in:
  • New Plymouth (169 De Havilland Drive)
  • Hamilton (16 Vialou Street)
  • Mount Maunganui (21 Totara Street)
  • Rotorua (1478 Hinemoa Street)
  • Wellington (233a Willis Street)