Thousands of people in Ireland are unaware that they are infected with hepatitis C, the HSE has warned.

It is calling on anyone who may be at risk to get tested, as effective treatments are available.

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects the liver, causing it to become inflamed. As a result, it does not work as effectively as it should. It is a blood-borne virus, which means a person can contract it after coming into contact with an infected person's blood, e.g. as a result of sharing needles or if there is any blood-to-blood contact.

According to the HSE, between 700 and 800 new cases are notified every year in Ireland and up to 30,000 people are estimated to be living with chronic hepatitis C. However more than half of these are unaware they have it.

Speaking on behalf of the HSE National Hepatitis C Implementation Committee, Prof Joe Barry noted that the virus is often referred to as the ‘silent pandemic', partly because it takes so long to manifest itself in those who have been infected.

"Spread largely by blood-to-blood contact, in about 15-30% of cases the body's natural defences can eliminate the disease. The rest of those infected develop the chronic form of hepatitis C. For most, however, this initially has no discernible symptoms, or non-specific ones such as general fatigue," he explained.

He called on anyone who may have put themselves at risk of contracting the virus, even if this risk occurred years before, to visit their GP and get tested.

"Diagnostic tests are now relatively simple and the treatments are getting better and better with time. To date in 2015, approximately 500 patients in Ireland with advanced liver disease as a result of hepatitis C have been approved for treatment using directly acting antivirals (DAAs), which greatly improve outcomes for patients," he noted.

The HSE said that it is currently finalising the appointment of a hepatitis C treatment programme clinical lead and programme manager.

"This will ensure the continued rollout of treatment to patients in Ireland with hepatitis C using the DAAs and the best treatment regimes to improve patients' lives," it said.

The HSE's call to get tested coincided with World Hepatitis Day 2015 (July 28), an annual event endorsed by the World Heath Organization, which aims to raise awareness of hepatitis B and C.

For more information on hepatitis C, click here