England 'on the cusp' of eliminating hepatitis C, health officials say

England is "leading the world" in efforts to eliminate hepatitis C as deaths from the virus have reduced by 36% in the last 10 years, NHS England said.

Hepatitis C is a blood-born viral infection which if untreated can cause serious damage to the liver.

As global health leaders have set out plans to eradicate viral hepatitis by 2030, NHS England said the nation is one of a handful of countries to have already surpassed the World Health Organization benchmark of treating 80% of all known cases.

NHS England said deaths from the virus have reduced by 36% in the last 10 years.

Professor Frankie Swords, NHS national medical director, said: "Hepatitis C can cause serious harm, including liver failure and cancer, yet many people live with it for years without knowing or having any symptoms at all until it's too late.

"That's why the NHS has worked hard alongside public health teams and charities to find and treat hidden cases, and it's really encouraging that over 100,000 people have now received potentially life-saving treatment in just a decade.

"England is now leading the world in the mission to eliminate this disease, and on course to beat the WHO's 2030 target, but we are determined to keep up the momentum and finish the job.

"With hepatitis C curable in more than nine out of 10 cases, we are committed to finding and treating everyone who needs support and would urge those at greater risk to come forward by ordering a free and confidential home-testing kit online."

It comes just after the closure of the Infected Blood Inquiry, which looked at how more than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after they were given contaminated blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s.

Rachel Halford, chief executive of The Hepatitis C Trust said: "We are on the cusp of one of the most significant public health achievements in our country's history. To sustain this momentum, continued commitment and long-term investment are essential."

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "We are leading the world in wiping out this disease for good.

"This is exactly the kind of preventative, forward-looking healthcare that we want the NHS to deliver across the board - catching illness earlier, easing pressure on hospitals, and giving people the chance to live longer, healthier lives."

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Dr Sema Mandal, from the UK Health Security Agency, said: "The sharp fall in cases since 2015 shows the impact of expanded testing and sustained access to modern curative treatments, and the commitment of health services and community partners across England.

"Treating over 100,000 people in just 10 years is a remarkable achievement, and brings England closer than ever to becoming one of the first countries in the world to eliminate this disease as a public health threat."

People at risk of undiagnosed hepatitis C, including people who have had a tattoo abroad, people who have moved to England from certain eastern European countries or those who use or have previously used injectable drugs, have been urged to order a confidential home-testing kit.

(c) Sky News 2026: England 'on the cusp' of eliminating hepatitis C, health officials say