January 28, 1997
(Health)

Get Tested

The Department of Health is advising anyone at risk of infection with bloodborne diseases to get tested. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C, as well as HIV, are all diseases that can be carried in a person's blood or other body fluids. Hepatitis B and C can result in liver disease while HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. "Often, a person with either of these diseases may not experience any symptoms for some time following infection and they may not even know they are infected," says Dr. Faith Stratton, the province's Director of Disease Control and Epidemiology. That's why it's important for people at risk to get tested. "Knowing you have a disease will enable you to get early treatment. As well, people who know they have one of these diseases can take action to prevent the spread of disease to others," said Dr. Stratton.

There are three significant risk factors for all of these diseases. People who have ever shared needles to inject street drugs or steroids, anyone who had a blood transfusion or received other blood products before 1991 or anyone who has had unprotected sex with someone who may be infected, are considered at risk for these diseases and should be tested. High risk individuals should talk to their family doctor about a test, or call their regional community health office. Dr. Stratton stressed that all testing is confidential.

The Get Tested campaign is intended to encourage people who might be infected to get tested, and to limit the spread of bloodborne diseases. "If people do not know they have a particular disease they may engage in high risk behaviours and place others at risk," says Dr. Stratton. "People at risk should be tested so that they can seek treatment while reducing the risk of infecting another person." All physicians in the province have been sent information packages on the Get Tested campaign. As well, community health units will be providing information and advising anyone at risk to get a test.

Contact: Dr. Faith Stratton, Director of Disease Control and Epidemiology, (709) 729-3430.