Hundreds of thousands of tourists returning home could unknowingly have the deadly hepatitis C virus if they have had a tattoo or piercing abroad, a new study suggests.
The virus, which is transmitted through blood-to-blood contact, can spread in tattoo or piercing parlors when equipment is not properly sterilized.
This risk is especially higher in countries where infection control standards may differ from those in the UK.
Now experts are issuing fresh warnings to young Britons as one in four people aged 16 to 34 in England have either had a tattoo abroad or know someone who has one, according to a new survey of more than 2,000 people.
Hepatitis C, which can cause life-threatening liver damage, often causes no symptoms for years and an estimated 62,000 people in England are living with the virus without knowing it.
Hepatitis C (pictured) is often asymptomatic for years, and in some cases decades, and an estimated 62,000 people in England are living with the virus without knowing it.
The virus, which is transmitted through blood-to-blood contact, can spread in tattoo or piercing parlors when equipment is not properly sterilized or proper hygiene measures are not followed.
Muscle aches, high fever, feeling tired, loss of appetite and stomach pain are telltale signs of the virus, but it is often mistaken for the flu or other common infections.
If hepatitis C is not treated, it can lead to life-threatening illnesses such as liver cancer or liver failure.
But with modern treatments, more than 90 per cent of people with hepatitis C could be cured, according to the NHS.
One famous victim is model and Baywatch star Pamela Anderson, 57, who in 2002 revealed she had contracted the virus and was told she would die within a decade.
But in 2015, after undergoing drug treatment, she learned that she had been cured.
Pamela Anderson, 57, revealed she had contracted the virus and was told she would die within a decade.
Alarmingly, more than half of 16 to 34-year-olds (53.5 per cent) in England admit they don’t know much about hepatitis C, according to the survey by sexual health testing company Preventx.
It was also found that 80 percent of respondents did not know that it can be contracted by getting a tattoo or piercing.
One in three people said they think it’s “fun” when someone gets a tattoo abroad and would encourage a friend to get one while abroad.
Two in five people surveyed said they knew someone who had gotten a tattoo while drunk on holiday.
Although injecting drug use remains the greatest risk for contracting hepatitis C, data show that parts of Africa, Central, South and East Asia, and Eastern Europe are areas of greatest concern for increased risk of hepatitis C.
Health experts are urging anyone who has been exposed to the virus to take advantage of a new home testing service provided by the NHS.
The service is a collaboration between NHS England, Preventx and Hepatitis C Trust. To date, more than 60,000 people have booked a test through the service.
Rachel Halford, chief executive of The Hepatitis C Trust, said: ‘Although someone may not have experienced any noticeable symptoms, hepatitis C can be like a time bomb in the body, causing liver damage for years without being detected.
‘The virus is spread through blood-to-blood contact, meaning that if tattooing or piercing equipment has not been properly sterilised, the virus can be passed between clients.’
The official urges those who have ever had a tattoo or piercing abroad to request a test.
She added: “The test is free, confidential and you will receive the results within a few days. If the result is negative, it will give you peace of mind. If the result is positive, hepatitis C can be easily treated and cured.”
Dr Vanessa Apea, medical director at Preventx and NHS consultant, said: ‘Many people are unaware that hepatitis C can be acquired through tattoos or piercings if they are carried out in unsterile environments.
“This virus can go undetected for years, but it is completely curable with a simple treatment with pills, especially if it is detected in time. I encourage anyone who is worried about the risk of contracting hepatitis C to get tested.”
The free test involves a finger prick and the collection of a small blood sample, which is sent to a lab for analysis.
Those who test positive will be contacted and connected with appropriate treatment options.