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Thousands of former patients are being contacted after a healthcare worker was diagnosed with hepatitis C, it was announced today.

Two patients are known to have contracted the virus from the worker who dealt with mainly obstetric and gynaecological treatment.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is writing to at 3,500 patients this week and a further 2,000 patients next week, who have been identified as having definitely or possibly received certain procedures from the healthcare worker.It is believed that around 95% of the patients being written to are resident in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area while 5% are estimated to live in the areas covered by Cwm Taf and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board areas.

The healthcare worker spent most of their career working at Caerphilly District Miners’ Hospital between 1984 and 2002, but also briefly worked at East Glamorgan General Hospital between May 28 and July 17 1984 and at Wrexham Maelor Hospital between May and June 1978.

The virus is known to have been transmitted from the healthcare worker to two patients between 1984 and 2002, when the individual stopped clinical practice.

Patients will receive an individual letter that will ask them to ring a dedicated helpline to arrange an appointment in a specialist nurse clinic.

Dr Gill Richardson, director of public health for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said: "We know that this will be a worrying time for those patients who will be contacted by letter, but we want to stress that the risk of transmission is low.

“As a precautionary measure, patients who may have been at risk of being exposed to the virus have been identified and will receive a letter to attend a clinic, so that we can ensure they are offered testing.

“Specialist nurse clinics have been set up and we will do all we can to support patients during this time.

“As many as one in 250 people carry the hepatitis C infection and it does not automatically lead to health problems.

“Treatment can help to clear the infection in up to 80% of the cases, which is why it’s so important to identify anyone who may be at risk of having been infected so treatment can be started if necessary.”

Prior to working in Wales, the healthcare worker worked in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Aneurin Bevan UHB said they were working closely with health officials across the UK to ensure a coordinated response for patients.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford said: “I want to emphasise that the risk of infection is low and that we are offering testing purely as a precaution. As few as 1 in 250 people in the UK carry Hepatitis C infection which does not automatically lead to health problems. It is important to identify people who may havebeen infected because treatment can help clear the infection in up to 80% of cases.”

Cwm Taf Health Board is working with Aneurin Bevan Health Board and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to ensure a coordinated response for patients.

The appointments helpline will be open from today, from 8am to 8pm seven days a week. Specialist clinics will start taking place from September 13, 2013 and patients who attend for testing will receive results in approximately two weeks.

Hepatitis C is a virus which can lead to inflammation of the liver, causing chronic liver disease and in some rare cases liver cancer.

Treatment is available for hepatitis C. In most cases, the virus is asymptomatic – people who are infected do not realise they have the infection and suffer no noticeable symptoms.

The virus is transmitted via blood-to-blood contact. It cannot be transmitted by social contact, kissing or sharing food and drink.

More information about hepatitis C, including a factsheet and frequently asked questions, will be available from the Cwm Taf and Aneurin Bevan health board websites at www.cwmtafhb.wales.nhs.uk and www.aneurinbevanhb.wales.nhs.uk.