THE number of people dying and being admitted to hospital because of hepatitis C in the North West is twice as high as the rate in England.

Research from Public Health England also reveals that Greater Manchester has the highest number of people infected with hepatitis C in the North West.

It has revealed that people being admitted to hospital and dying for hepatitis C-related end stage liver disease is twice the national rate.

Recent estimates suggests around 40,000 people across the North West have hepatitis C with 27,000 developing chronic infection.

It is believed around 40 per cent of the infected people have not been diagnosed.

Many people may be unaware because they have no symptoms or only mild symptoms, but they could be at risk of liver damage as well as passing on the infection to others.

Some symptoms include a high temperature, tiredness, loss of appetite, tummy pain and feeling sick.

Those most at risk of contracting hepatitis C infection in the North West are people who inject drugs or have injected drugs in the past - especially if they have shared injecting equipment.

Evdokia Dardamissis from PHE North West said: “Hepatitis C remains a major public health concern and one that we are actively addressing in partnership with the NHS and drug services."

Public Health England said it is committed to working closely with stakeholders to improve surveillance, diagnosis and care pathways.