Family physicians and public health nurses will provide individual followup of new cases of hepatitis C to ensure individuals are informed about how to preserve their health and protect those close to them. In cases where hepatitis C positive individuals were also blood donors prior to April 1992, the Canadian Blood Services will be notified so they may undertake a targeted search for recipients of the donors blood units. It is anticipated that over 95 per cent of individuals who get tested will be negative for the virus. Of the few who test positive for hepatitis C, not everyone will have symptoms of the disease or develop symptoms or require medical care. For those who are candidates for medical therapy, treatment is successful in up to 45 per cent of cases.
New therapies are in the developmental stages.
People who were transfused in Manitoba and have since left the province will not be notified by letter. Individuals who lived in another province but were transfused in Manitoba will not receive a letter. Every attempt has been made to ensure that individuals who have already been diagnosed with hepatitis C or have been tested for the virus since 1992 will not receive a notification letter. In March 1992 a reliable test for hepatitis C was used to test all donated blood. Additional ongoing dollars have been added to the care and treatment system.