HCV Statistics - Canada
In 2001, Statistics Canada says our nation's population was 30,007,094. The Canadian HepCBC reports that over 1% of Canadians (300,000) have HCV. Other studies indicates as many as 1.2% of Canadians (369,000) have HCV. Health Canada reports 70% and The Canadian Association of Hepatology Nurses reports 75% of people infected with HCV are NOT aware this silent, often deadly, disease is invading their bodies, compromising their liver and potentially being transmitted to other innocent people.
Although there are more differences than similarities between HCV and HIV both are viruses and blood-borne pathogens. In Canada, 49,000 people have AIDS/HIV. That means that currently for every one person in Canada with HIV, there are slightly over six people with HCV.
You may be familiar with HCV because from 1986 to 1990 Canadian patients (mainly hemophiliacs) received HCV tainted blood. Through litigation, these patients were awarded a settlement of $1.2 billion from the Canadian government as compensation. Currently $900,000 million remains of this fund. Although an estimated 20,000 persons received contaminated blood; so far only 5,000 have filed a successful claim. The first compensation checks were not sent until Spring of 2001 which was after some of the victims who received the tainted blood had already died.
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