Free Hepatitis C Screenings Offered by Waterbury Hospital

Waterbury Hospital is teaming up with Wellmore Behavioral Health and the Waterbury Lions Club to offer free Hepatitis C screenings.

When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 27

Where: Wellmore Adult Outpatient Clinic, 402 E. Main St.

Cost: Free

No appointment is needed. Results will be available in 20 minutes.

Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by the blood-borne virus with the same name. Many people contracted the virus decades ago through a blood transfusion and are unaware that they are infected.

The virus is also acquired by sharing needles used to inject drugs. About 80 percent of those infected with Hepatitis C will develop chronic infection which may lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and/or the need for liver transplantation, according to Wellmore staff. Extremely effective therapies are now available for individuals with chronic Hepatitis C infection.

Screening is recommended for: all adults born between 1945 and 1965 who have not been previously screened, persons who are currently using or have a history of using injection drugs, persons who have received blood transfusions prior to 1992, persons who have gotten an unregulated tattoo and any other person with a known risk factor.

Photo by Katrin Gilger, via flickr creative commons