UK blood scandal worsens, 400,000 may be infected, victims demand accountability

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The UK’s contaminated blood scandal has resurfaced with alarming new revelations. An estimated 400,000 people may have been exposed to hepatitis C, a virus that can cause severe liver damage if left untreated. The crisis stems from blood transfusions administered between the 1970s and 1990s, when thousands of patients unknowingly received infected blood. The scale of the disaster is staggering, and the government’s response has been widely criticized.

The numbers paint a grim picture. More than 30,000 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C, and over 3,000 have died as a result. Many victims were haemophiliacs, treated with contaminated blood products, while others received transfusions during accidents, surgeries, or childbirth complications. The government’s failure to act swiftly has left countless individuals suffering from long-term health consequences.

The scandal is one of the worst medical disasters in UK history. The Infected Blood Inquiry, which concluded in 2023, found that authorities knowingly exposed patients to contaminated blood, prioritizing cost-cutting measures over patient safety. The government has since established the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, but victims and their families argue that the compensation process is slow and inadequate.

Efforts to identify undiagnosed victims are now underway. GPs across England will ask new patients if they received a blood transfusion before 1996, offering hepatitis C tests to those at risk. The NHS estimates that around 400,000 people born before 1996 will be screened, a move recommended in the final inquiry report. Patients can now order discreet, self-testing kits to check for the virus at home.

The consequences of hepatitis C infection can be devastating. The virus often remains undetected for years, silently damaging the liver. If left untreated, it can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and even cancer. While modern antiviral treatments can eliminate the virus, many victims have already suffered irreversible harm.

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93lqz7lrkyo

https://news.sky.com/story/new-gp-drive-to-find-undiagnosed-infected-blood-scandal-victims-13370890

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/infected-blood-scandal-hepatitis-c-b2753207