Residents in south China's Guangdong Province now have access to low-cost tests for the hepatitis C virus at about 100 hospitals as part of a control program.

　　The goal of the program, which will run through December 18, is to reveal the estimated 1 million hepatitis C patients in the province and provide them with timely treatment, said Hou Jinlin, an expert on infectious diseases and one of the major initiators of the program.

　　In most hospitals, the initial checkup costs 20 yuan, and those with a positive test will be diagnosed free of charge.

　　The hospitals will also offer collective treatment to the diagnosed patients.

　　Hepatitis c virus carriers may not feel any symptoms for as long as 20 years after they become infected before developing hepatocirrhosis or even liver cancer.

　　It is estimated that there are about 40 million people infected by the hepatitis C virus in China with about 1 million living in Guangdong.

　　(Xinhua)