New Hepatitis C clinic opens in Niagara

A new clinic is now open in Niagara for people who need testing, treatment and support for Hepatitis C.

The Niagara Health System (NHS) clinic is located at the New Port Centre, part of the Port Colborne Site, and there is a satellite clinic at the Ontario Street Site in St. Catharines.
Services offered at this clinic include treatment for Hepatitis C infection, case management, and individual and group counselling.
It is estimated that approximately 5,500 people in the Niagara region have Hepatitis C, which is spread through contact with the blood of an infected person.
Most people do not experience symptoms when they first become infected, and symptoms may not appear until 10 or 20 years later when the disease has progressed.
In later stages, Hepatitis C can seriously damage the liver by causing cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Patients can be referred to the clinic by their family physician, Niagara Region Public Health, and community health centres.
Individuals who know they have Hepatitis C or believe they are at risk of infection may also self-refer by contacting 905-378-2627, ext. 32554.