Find the Missing Millions

Today is World Hepatitis Day. As July 28th rolls around each year, experts aim to raise awareness about the 290 million people worldwide who are currently living with viral hepatitis, yet do not know their disease status. This year’s theme of “Find the Missing Millions” speaks to the need to get more people tested. Simply put: a diagnosis must happen before there’s a chance for treatment.

Viral hepatitis includes several types of this disease, with hepatitis C being both the more common and most deadly form. Without treatment, hepatitis C damages the liver and leads to liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and a possible need for a liver transplant.

Of course all of that sounds alarming, but the very good news is that highly effective treatments are now available to cure nearly every case of hepatitis C infection. This is why World Hepatitis Day calls so insistently for increased diagnosis, so the people who are infected can access the treatment that could save their lives. This is part of the World Health Organization for a Global Strategy for Viral Hepatitis, which set a goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

BioPlus is your partner in delivering life-saving hepatitis C medications to patients who need them. Won’t you join in the efforts with us? Encourage all Baby Boomers to get a one-time screening for hepatitis C infection, as well as anyone else with a hepatitis C risk factor, such as a history of IV drug use or a blood transfusion prior to 1992.

Together, let’s help find the missing millions so we can connect more patients with the life-saving hepatitis C treatments that are available.