Tag: Hepatitis C | CATIE Blog

Point-of-care RNA testing: Can it close the gap in hepatitis C diagnosis?

April 22, 2024 • By Tamara Barnett

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that can cause liver damage and scarring and make a person very sick if left untreated. Nearly one-quarter of people who have ever had hepatitis C in Canada are unaware of their status, so increasing testing remains pivotal if Canada is to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030. Many advances have been made over the past few years, and more tools are available than ever to test people for hepatitis C. Point-of-care RNA testing for hepatitis C is of particular interest to many service providers because it can be conducted outside...

Tackling misconceptions: Hepatitis C treatment for people who use drugs

April 22, 2024 • By Romane Close

With the advent of treatments called direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), a huge number of people across Canada have been successfully cured of hepatitis C. However, efforts to cure some of the most affected communities continue to be hindered by incorrect or outdated information. For example, many successes in curing hepatitis C have been achieved through the determination of people who use drugs, and yet they still encounter access barriers due to discrimination and problematic misconceptions around treatment eligibility. These gaps in knowledge can be addressed by raising awareness about hepatitis C treatment and organizations across Canada have been working to clarify...

Extrahepatic manifestations: Impacts of hepatitis C beyond the liver

April 22, 2024 • By Dahn Jeong and Daryl Luster

Hepatitis C (HCV) is a viral infection primarily known for its impact on the liver but it also has far-reaching consequences that extend to other parts of the body. These conditions, caused by hepatitis C infection outside the liver, are known as extrahepatic manifestations (EHMs).

Busting common myths about hepatitis C treatment in Canada

March 19, 2024 • By Sofia Bartlett

Highly effective medications that can cure hepatitis C infection, called direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), have been approved for use in Canada for people over the age of 18 since 2014. These medications are well-tolerated, nearly 100% effective, and have treatment durations of just eight or 12 weeks. DAAs have simplified hepatitis C treatment considerably, allowing treatments to be prescribed by primary care providers, such as nurse practitioners and family doctors. Now that the treatment itself is so simple, getting coverage for reimbursement of DAAs is the most complicated and challenging aspect of treating hepatitis C infection in Canada. Almost 90% of...

INHSU 2023: Global lessons for the health of people who use drugs

November 10, 2023 • By Christopher Hoy

In October, CATIE attended INHSU 2023, the 11th International Conference on Health and Hepatitis Care in Substance Users. This leading international conference brought experts from around the world to Geneva, Switzerland, where they discussed the latest in research, programs and policy on hepatitis and the health of people who use drugs. While there, CATIE spoke with presenters and attendees and asked them to share key messages from the conference. Watch the short videos below and catch up on some of the topics discussed at INHSU 2023. Christopher Hoy is the associate director of Ontario hepatitis C and harm reduction...

Visual voice: Incorporating story with wellness

August 15, 2023 • By Kate Dunn

“We know the hepatitis C virus is a silent, often sneaky virus that wreaks havoc in the liver, is detectable through screening and is cured through oral medication in a matter of weeks. But our rates are rising because there is no personal engagement. We need culturally connected awareness resources to make an impact.” -Indigenous Knowledge Keeper While collaborating with an Indigenous community in Alberta to streamline hepatitis C pathways to care, I had the opportunity to take part in the co-creation of a culturally connected liver health awareness film. I was inspired to action when this resource was...