Chronic hepatitis C cases have fallen 61% in the last decade, according to new data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Around 50,200 adults were estimated to be living with chronic hepatitis C in England in 2024 – down from 129,000 in 2015.

The data showed only 5.2% of people who inject drugs – the group at highest risk of acquiring hepatitis C, particularly if they have shared or reused needles and syringes – had the infection in 2024, compared with 28.6% in 2015.

UKHSA said the decline reflects the impact of expanded testing initiatives and sustained access to curative direct-acting antiviral treatment.

If left untreated, over the course of many years hepatitis C can cause serious and potentially life-threatening liver damage and cancer.

‘Significant progress towards eliminating hepatitis C’

Dr Monica Desai, head of the hepatitis section at the UKHSA, said: ‘We are making significant progress towards eliminating hepatitis C.

‘The sharp fall in cases since 2015 shows the impact of expanded testing and sustained access to modern curative treatments and the commitment of health services and community partners across England.

‘While the number of people living with the virus continues to decline, it remains vital that those most at risk are offered testing, can access life-saving treatments, and receive the support needed to prevent new infections.’

Rachel Halford, chief executive of The Hepatitis C Trust, added: ‘It is encouraging to see the continued commitment of the Government, the NHS and partners driving a sustained reduction in cases of this treatable virus.

‘This work is a shining example to the rest of our health system, and health systems around the world, that when you meaningfully involve all key stakeholders, including people with lived experience, in the design and delivery of services, you can achieve incredible things.

‘While elimination is within reach, we cannot afford to ease our commitment – we are not there yet.

‘We must continue testing and identifying those who remain undiagnosed, while also developing clear plans to sustain this progress and ensure it is maintained in the future.’

‘Challenges remain’

Despite the decline in cases, the UKHSA has warned that ‘challenges remain’, with an estimated one in three people injecting drugs reporting that the needle and syringe provisions ‘do not meet their injecting needs’.

Last year, the Hepatitis C Trust’s Needle and syringe Provision Preventing Harm Conference found that while ‘needle and syringe provision is vital to reduce harms from injecting drugs and to maintain hepatitis C elimination’, there is ‘inadequate and declining needle and syringe provision and expertise in England’.

A groundbreaking opt-out testing programme for blood-borne viruses at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has uncovered dozens of previously undiagnosed cases since its launch. Focusing initially on HIV, it was expanded to include hepatitis B and C as part of the hepatitis C elimination programme.

A version of this article was originally published by our sister publication Nursing in Practice.