Free Hepatitis C testing will be offered—with expanded hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.—on Tuesday, July 28, in honor of World Hepatitis Day. The testing takes place at the Putnam County Department of Health, One Geneva Road in Brewster. Appointments can be made by calling 845-808-1390. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Most people with this blood-borne virus show no symptoms of this disease. Hepatitis causes an inflammation of the liver which can lead to severe liver disease and liver cancer. For this reason, the Putnam County Department of Health, the World Health Organization and countless other health organizations recommend that all adults be tested at least once in their lifetime. Routine testing is especially important if you are pregnant, received blood products before 1992 when blood screening began, have HIV or ever injected drugs.

Millions of people worldwide live with chronic Hepatitis despite highly effective vaccines and curative treatments. Observed annually on this date, World Hepatitis Day commemorates the birthday of the Nobel-prize winning scientist who discovered Hepatitis B virus and developed its vaccine.

If you are unable to visit the health department on this day, Hepatitis C testing is available for free by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the health department as well.