Reading West MP, Martin Salter, has marked World Hepatitis Day (March 19^th) by calling on the government to do make hepatitis a priority by raising awareness of the shocking fact that approximately 1 in 12 of the world population is infected with chronic hepatitis B or C. 

In England it is estimated that less than 70,000 of the 230,000-466,000 people living with hepatitis C have been diagnosed. Hepatitis C is often known as the ‘silent killer’ as people can live with it undiagnosed and without symptoms for many years.  Around 320,000 people are living with hepatitis B in the UK and this number is increasing.

Mr Salter has signed up to House of Commons Early Day Motion 1469: World Hepatitis Day which calls on the government to support World Hepatitis Day and to help put it on the World Health Organisation agenda.

Mr Salter said:

“I am delighted to support the first ever World Hepatitis Day. I was shocked to find out the staggering numbers of people who are unaware that they suffer from this deadly disease. We simply have to do more to make more people aware of the infection risks and urge them to get tested.”