HEPATITIS C FACTS
WHAT IS VIRAL
HEPATITIS C?
- Viral infection of the liver
- Can cause acute and chronic infection
- Often no symptoms (“silent disease”)
- More than 40% don’t know they have it
- Chronic Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver cancer and liver transplants in Canada
HOW IS HEPATITIS C
SPREAD?
- Sharing infected needles or straws when using drugs
- Blood transfusion
- Needle stick injury
- Nonsterile tattooing and body piercing equipment
- Mother with HCV to child during birth
- Unprotected sex
WHO SHOULD BE
SCREENED?
- Born between 1945 and 1975
- Any history of injection drug use (even one time)
- Anyone from an endemic area (Egypt, Italy, India, Pakistan, Vietnam)
- Contaminated blood or blood products or organ transplantation before 1992 in Canada
- High-risk sexual behaviour
HOW TO GET SCREENED FOR HEPATITIS C?
VISIT A VIRCAN CLINIC
COMPLETE CONSENT AND QUESTIONNAIRE
HEPATITIS C SCREENING
RESULT AND CONSULTATION
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR ME TO KNOW?
- Hepatitis C may show no symptoms, yet cause serious health consequences
- Prevent transmission to other people
- Hepatitis C is a curable infection (over 95% cure rates with new therapies)
- Early treatment reduces the risk of liver scarring (cirrhosis), liver failure and cancer
HOW TO PREVENT HEPATITIS C?
GET YOUR BLOOD TESTED
USE CONDOMS
DO NOT SHARE RAZORS, TOOTHBRUSHES, NEEDLES OR SYRINGES
VIRCAN is a structured academic-community partnership that will address issues throughout the care of viral hepatitis, from diagnosis to treatment to cure.
Based out of the Toronto Centre for Liver Disease (TCLD), one of the largest liver units in North America, the VIRCAN team looks forward to demonstrating how viral hepatitis screening and treatment should be optimized in other urban settings across Canada, and around the world.
FIND A VIRCAN LIVER CLINIC
Four Locations in the GTA
Viral Hepatitis Care Network (VIRCAN) is an initiative of the Toronto Centre for Liver Disease part of the University Health Network that provides liver related healthcare services you need, at the convenience you want and the standards you deserve, right to your doorstep. VIRCAN Clinics are conveniently located in 4 locations around the GTA.
Toronto Midtown Liver Clinic
1975 Avenue Rd., 2nd Fl.
Toronto, ON M5M 4A3
T. 416 922 6022
F. 416 927 9100
[email protected]
Map+
Etobicoke Liver Clinic
817 Brown’s Line
Toronto, ON M8W 3V7
T. 416 503 2626
F. 416 503 2665
[email protected]
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Richmond Hill Liver Clinic
328 Highway 7 E., Suite 301
Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3P7
T. 905 771 8821
F. 905 771 8481
[email protected]
Map+
Scarborough Liver Clinic
3030 Lawrence Ave E., Suite 510
Toronto, ON M1P 2T7
T. 416 431 4402
F. 416 431 0762
[email protected]
Map+