Did you know that 1 in 30 baby boomers has Hepatitis C and most don’t know it? In fact, people born from 1945 to 1965 are five times more likely to have Hepatitis C than other adults.
Hepatitis C may not cause symptoms for years or even decades while slowly damaging the liver. By the time symptoms appear, liver damage is often significant. Left untreated, Hepatitis C can cause cirrhosis, cancer and even death. It is also the leading cause of liver transplants.
“The good news is Hepatitis C can be treated,” said Dr. Kimberly McDonald, medical director at Wake County Human Services. “The first step is to get a simple blood test. Once a diagnosis is made, residents can be connected with the right care and medications to be cured.”
Wake County offers free Hepatitis C testing at several convenient locations:
- Eastern Regional Center in Zebulon: Call 919-404-3900 for an appointment.
- Northern Regional Center: in Wake Forest: Call 919-562-6300 for an appointment.
- Southern Regional Center in Fuquay-Varina: Call 919-557-2501 for an appointment.
- Sunnybrook in Raleigh: Call 919-250-3900 for an appointment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone born from 1945-1965 get tested.
Visit www.wakegov.com/HepC to learn more about Hepatitis C and its risk factors
