Thousands of people in England could be unknowingly living with hepatitis C, experts at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) have warned.

The virus, spread through blood-to-blood contact, can lead to severe liver damage, cancer, or liver failure if left untreated, but can be cured if detected.

People over the age of 18 in England are urged to get tested via the hepatitis C testing portal on the NHS website.

Free and confidential home tests for hepatitis C were launched in May 2023 and involve self-sampling a few drops of blood from a finger.

Those testing positive are provided treatment that, in most cases, can cure them.

Dr Michael Pavlides, hepatology consultant at OUH and Thames Valley hepatitis C clinical lead: "The NHS and OUH are aiming to eliminate hepatitis C as a major public health threat by 2025."

He continued: "Many people are unknowingly living with hepatitis C and, if left untreated, it can lead to life-threatening conditions like liver cancer or liver failure.

"To reach our goal of eliminating hepatitis C we need to get more people testing, so please do get tested when you can."

Hepatitis C often goes unnoticed, with symptoms such as tiredness, loss of appetite, feeling sick, or experiencing flu-like symptoms not always leading to a correct diagnosis.

The condition is especially likely to affect those who have injected drugs, shared drug-taking paraphernalia, had a blood transfusion, organ transplant or certain medical procedures abroad before 1991 or those born abroad in areas of high hepatitis C prevalence.

Since the Thames Valley hepatitis C team was established at OUH in 2017, serving Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, and Swindon, more than 2,000 patients have been successfully treated.

One such patient is Paul from Buckinghamshire, who tested positive for hepatitis C in July 2023 after being encouraged to get tested due to his past experimentation with drugs and a childhood blood transfusion.

Now cured, Paul said: "Hepatitis C can be a ticking time bomb inside of you.

"Testing is done at home and is quick, simple and free.

"Treatments are also free, highly effective, and will most likely cure you."

As part of an awareness campaign, the Thames Valley hepatitis C team is encouraging residents to get tested, with free and confidential finger-prick tests available from the NHS website.

Dayo Leduwe, Thames Valley operational delivery network manager at OUH, said: "We are appealing to people across the Thames Valley to get tested.

"Those who receive a positive test result will be contacted and referred for treatment."