HIQA Recommends Hep. C Testing For People Born Between 1965 & 1985.

Friday, 30 July 2021 11:49

The prevalence of HCV infection is highest amongst those born during that time-frame.

The Health Information & Quality Authority recommends that people born between 1965 and 1985 undergo testing for Hepatitis C.

In Ireland, the prevalence of HCV infection is highest amongst those born during that time-frame.

Of the 1.5 million people in this cohort, it is estimated that one in every 100 may have chronic HCV infection.

We have just published our Health Technology Assessment (HTA) recommending the introduction of once-off testing for the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) to people in Ireland born between 1965 and 1985. You can find out more here: https://t.co/zQJFyRia11 pic.twitter.com/qc8l3SwHBW
— HIQA (@HIQA) July 29, 2021

HIQA has advised the Minister for Health that implementation of a birth cohort testing programme would be "cost-effective and help Ireland achieve its HCV elimination goals. Following a public consultation, the HTA of birth cohort testing for hepatitis C was approved by the Board of HIQA and has been submitted to the Minister for Health for his consideration."

Dr Máirín Ryan, HIQA’s Deputy CEO and Director of Health Technology Assessment joined Ciara Noble on Friday's edition of Kildare Today.

We found that the tests available to diagnose chronic HCV infection are highly accurate. Furthermore, treatments are safe and effective, with over 95% of people treated being cured of their infection.
— HIQA (@HIQA) July 29, 2021

More from Local News

Survivors’ Stories And Counselling Gave Kildare Woman Maeve Leahy Strength To Speak Out About Abuse

Audio

Thomas Howard, the 79-year-old former GAA referee from Old Kilcullen, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison at Tullamore Circuit Court.
€34.5m Boost Backs Quest To Study Memory Loss And Build 3-D Biodegradable Spinal Supports

Other funded work includes discovering new yeast species in Irish ecosystems, and studying how early-life memories are lost and how this process differs in autism and between sexes, to potentially "reverse" memory loss.
Newbridge Library To Relocate Next Month Ahead Of 2026 Rebuild

Because the project will take place on the existing library site, Newbridge Community Library will temporarily close on Thursday 11 December at 8pm to allow for its relocation to Liffey Lodge, which will serve as its temporary home during the build.
13 New Gardaí For Kildare - But No Increase For Part-Time Maynooth Station

Audio

Maynooth, which is similar in size to Leixlip, still operates only a part-time Garda station and no new Gardai have been allocated to the station under the latest deployment.
Kildare’s Rain Warning Brought Forward To 9am As Remnants Of Storm Claudia Approach Ireland

A Status Orange alert for heavy rain in Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow will be in effect from 12 noon today until 8am tomorrow.
Christmas Gift Caution As E-Scooters Leading Cause Of Child Brain Injuries

Parents are being advised not to buy them for children.
€540k Worth Of Ketamine Seized In Major Kildare Raid

A man in his 20s was arrested.
Former GAA Referee Thomas Howard From Old Kilcullen Jailed For Indecently Assaulting His Niece

He previously appeared before Judge Sinéad McMullen at Tullamore Circuit Court, where the court heard details of the abuse of his niece, Maeve Leahy, during the mid-1980s and 1990s.