Free hepatitis C testing will be available at a mosque.

On Friday North Watford Mosque will be holding tests between 11am till 3pm.

The examinations are to identify and treat people with hepatitis C, a virus which infects the liver and is passed through blood-to-blood contact.

It can often have few symptoms and can lie undetected.

113,000 people in England are estimated to have the virus and nearly 70 per cent of those people are undiagnosed.

Long-term infection can lead to liver damage but simple, new treatments for hepatitis C are now available and the virus is easily cured.

The virus is more common in those born in south Asian countries.

If people have medical treatment in countries where medical equipment is not sterilised properly, they can become infected with hepatitis C through traces blood left on equipment containing the virus.

Shabana Begum from The Hepatitis C Trust said: “We are excited to be working with the local community to offer free hepatitis C antibody testing in conjunction with the Hepatitis C Trust.

“It’s really important people come and get tested. If left untreated, it can cause serious liver damage and even death.

“However, if you have the virus, treatment is available and effective and testing can also give you peace of mind.”

Testing is available at: North Watford Mosque, 167 N. Western Avenue, WD25 0AQ this Friday 26t April from