In 1971, Wendy MacKay of Tell gave birth by cesarean section. Along with her baby, she got a transfusion of Hepatitis C infected blood. 28 years later, after a long battle with fatigue, she learned she had the disease, Heidi Bevington writes.
Since then, she's been working to support others who have the disease, and raise awareness about it in an unsuspecting population.
As many as 40,000 people in BC may be infected with the disease, says Ms MacKay. She estimates about 300 of them may be on the islands, although it is very hard to give accurate numbers, she says, so many people are walking around unaware they have the disease.
Hepatitis C is a virus that affects the liver and immune system. 20-40-percent of people with chronic Hepatitis C develop cirrhosis. Other possible symptoms include joint pain, fever, chills, night sweats, fatigue, digestive problems and numbness or tingling of the extremities. However, many people show no symptoms, and only get diagnosed accidentally while being tested for other things, according to information available at Ms Mackay's web site, www.island.net/~wmm.
People usually catch Hepatitis C through blood from an infected person, for instance through blood transfusion, sharing needles, body piercing or tattooing.
A drug treatment exists, says Ms MacKay, but it only slows the progression of the disease, it doesn't cure it. About 20 percent of infected people managed to shake the virus, but the remaining 80 percent go on to become chronic sufferers. Early treatment with the drug can certainly make a difference to the quality of life for people with the disease, says Ms MacKay.
As part of her work to raise Hepatitis C awareness, Ms MacKay belongs to a provincial organization, the BC Chapter Network. The network recently joined forces with another BC organization, the BC Hepatitis C Collaborative Circle to speak and act as one on behalf of Hepatitis C patients.
Over a quarter million Canadians are infected with Hepatitis C. According to Health Canada two thirds of people with the disease are unaware of their infection, say the Network and the Circle. Both groups agree government hesitation is threatening the health of Canadians.
Because of government inaction, Canadians are being denied the ability to take steps to protect their health, and the health of others, says Ken Thomson of the BC Hepatitis C Collaborative Circle.
We need a coordinated, cost effective, multidisciplinary approach and a properly resourced, multi-year Canadian Hepatitis C Strategy, said Katerina Gentes, of the BC Chapter Network. We need to stop the unnecessary illness and deaths. We need to stop the 5000 new infections every year-mostly among our young people.
Hepatitis C has a huge stigma because of its association with intravenous drug use, says Ms MacKay, but early detection may mean better success for treatment. She has found islands doctors to be knowledgeable and supportive, and she urges people who think they might be infected to consult with a doctor.