The World Health Organization's (WHO) first-ever guidelines for the treatment of Hepatitis C comes at a critical moment for China, which has seen a huge 185 percent increase in the number of Chinese afflicted with this disease from 2006 to 2012.

Hepatitis C is a chronic infection caused by the Hepatitis C virus and affects from 130 million to 150 million people worldwide. The disease primarily targets the liver and can lead to scarring of the liver and cirrhosis, which can later develop into liver cancer.

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The virus is spread mostly by blood-to-blood contact during intravenous drug use, transfusions and by using poorly sterilized medical equipment.  Hepatitis C causes from 350,000 to 500,000 deaths every year worldwide.

The Chinese Society of Liver Diseases of the Chinese Medical Association said that with timely diagnosis and treatment, Hepatitis C can either be highly prevented or cured.

The government estimates the number of Hepatitis C victims in mainland China at more than 10 million but some experts said this is a serious underestimate. Fewer than two percent of those diagnosed with Hepatitis C have ever sought medical attention, according to the government. The percentage of those receiving proper medication is even lower.

Stefan Wiktor, who is leading WHO's Global Hepatitis Programme, said the new guidance aims to help countries improve treatment and care for hepatitis and reduce deaths from liver cancer and cirrhosis. The new guidelines were launched on the eve of the opening of the 2014 International Liver Congress in London.

WHO recommends a screening test for persons considered at high risk of infection. This should be followed by another test for those who screen positive in order to establish whether they have chronic Hepatitis C infection.

The guidelines provide advice on the selection of the most appropriate test to assess the degree of liver damage in those with chronic Hepatitis C infection. Also, WHO now advises that people with chronic hepatitis C infection receive an alcohol assessment since alcohol use can accelerate liver damage caused by Hepatitis C.

As for treatment, the guidelines recommend existing treatments based on interferon injections and new regimens that use only oral medicines. WHO emphasizes that rates of new Hepatitis C infections remain unacceptably high in many countries due to reusing syringes and the non-screening of blood transfusions.