The City of St. Joseph Health Department will offer free Hepatitis C screening in recognition of National Hepatitis Testing Day Thursday.

The department will offer free walk-in screening for Hepatitis C on Thursday, May 19, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Patee Market Health Center, 904 S. 10th Street, 2nd floor.

The screening is considered a “rapid test” and will be completed within 20 minutes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that millions of Americans have Hepatitis C and 75% of them are baby boomers born between 1945 and 1965. A “silent” disease, Hepatitis C often has no noticeable symptoms for years, even decades.

Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver, which is the body’s filter and helps rid the body of toxins. Infection with the Hepatitis C virus, HCV, can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, or even death. There is no vaccine for HCV but there are many successful treatments for Hepatitis C. Early screening and diagnosis is essential in preventing transmission of the disease and in easing the long-term health consequences of Hepatitis C.

The City of St. Joseph Health Department offers testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, and Hepatitis C, Monday through Friday, by appointment only, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. There is a $10.00 charge for the visit but treatment for curable sexually transmitted infections is free of charge.