Former member of the Beach Boys, David Marks, is today calling on the
public to 'face their past' as part of a government campaign to raise
awareness of hepatitis C. The Beach Boy, who found out that he had
the virus in 1999, is in London's Leicester Square to unveil an
outdoor exhibition of giant portraits of people with hepatitis C.
Recent research shows that four out of five people in England know
little or nothing about hepatitis C, and eighty per cent of the
estimated 200,000 people infected in this country are unaware of
their condition, which can go undetected for up to 30 years.
The three-metre high portraits on display in Leicester Square are of
people from across the country, all of who have lived with hepatitis
C. The pictures were taken by photographer Michele Martinoli, who
has herself been successfully treated for hepatitis C.
Welcoming the event, Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said:
"This event is an innovative way of raising public awareness of
hepatitis C and will help with efforts to prevent new cases and to
diagnose and treat those who are already infected.
"By touring major cities in England, the photographic exhibition will
help communicate key messages about the disease to the public across
the country."
Former Beach Boy, David Marks, speaking at the event said:
"People need to take a few minutes out of their day to step back and
face their pasts... have I ever injected drugs using shared
equipment, even just once? Have I had an unsafe tattoo or piercing?
If the answer is yes, call the Hepatitis C Information Line for
advice about hepatitis C and whether you should consider being
tested."
Photographer, Michele Martinoli, speaking at the event said:
"There is a social stigma around the disease caused by lack of
awareness. I hope these portraits show that hepatitis C affects
people from all walks of life. It's important that we bring hepatitis
C out of the shadows to get people to face up to the illness in the
same way we did with HIV in the eighties and nineties."
Hepatitis C is usually spread by the transfer of blood from
person-to-person, for example through the sharing of needles or
syringes when injecting drugs. Those at risk include people who have
had a blood transfusion before screening for hepatitis C was
introduced in 1991. It can also be spread, less commonly, through
unprotected sex, tattoos and body piercing. Many people have no
symptoms, while others may feel tired and have mild abdominal
discomfort. There is effective treatment available, which is why it
is so important for people who may have been at risk to get tested.
The Hepatitis C Information Line is 0800 451 451 (textphone 0800
0850859) and open from 10am-10pm, 7 days a week, and further
information on hepatitis C is available at hepc.nhs.
For further information or pictures of the event, or to arrange
interviews with the Beach Boy, the photographer, a hepatitis C expert
or any of the people featured in the exhibition, please contact Chris
Duncan, Joanna York or Victoria Smith on 0207 815 3900 or
chris.duncanmunroforster
Chris Duncan - 07810 386314
Joanna York - 07958 615283
Victoria Smith - 07816 527035
For more information on Department of Health policy on hepatitis C
please contact Sophie Coppel in the media centre on 020 7210 5707.
Notes to Editors:
- Hepatitis C is recognised as a significant public health problem
world-wide. In England it is estimated that there are approximately
200,000 people chronically infected and the majority of these are
unaware of their infection. There is currently no vaccine against
hepatitis C, so prevention of new infections is particularly
important. There are increasingly effective antiviral drug treatments
available that have been approved by the National Institute for
Clinical Excellence (NICE). Lifestyle changes, in particular
decreasing alcohol intake, can delay the onset of liver disease
- The Hepatitis C Action Plan for England is available on the DH
website at: dh/publications and dh/cmo
- David Marks played on the first four Beach Boys' albums. He was
forced to leave the band in 1999 due to his battles with hepatitis C.
He has since cleared the virus through treatment, whilst dedicating
his time to raising awareness of hepatitis C across America
- The portraits are of people who are currently living with hepatitis
C, produced by photographer Michele Martinoli, who herself has been
successfully treated for the virus. This event is the first time
these pictures are being exhibited. Martinoli's work has previously
been shown in titles such as The Face, Attitude, AXM, QX, G3, The
Times, Sunday Mirror and Time Out
GNNREF: 112591
Issued by : DOH Press Office (UK)