The rate of Hepatitis C, a contagious liver disease primarily spread through contact with the blood of an infected person, is higher in Newfoundland and Labrador than the national average.
The provincial government last week announced the formation of a steering committee to eliminate Hepatitis C in Newfoundland and Labrador by 2030.
The Department of Health says data from the last five years shows a range of 262 cases in this province in 2018 to 136 cases in 2020. While the numbers dropped in 2020, likely due to public health measures in place due to COVID-19, the province’s Hepatitis C rate is still higher than the national rate.
The disease is transmitted through shared equipment used for preparing and injecting drugs, the reuse of tattoo or piercing equipment that is not properly cleaned, sharing personal items like toothbrushes, razors and nail clippers, or sexual activity where blood may be present. It can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth.
