Researchers have identified a significant spike in hepatitis C virus (HCV) rates for Irish “health tourists”—Irish citizens who travel abroad to get cheap dental work or cosmetic surgery, the Irish Times reports.

Irish doctors are seeing new hep C cases among people who recently traveled to Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and South Africa for procedures. Only 12,000 have been diagnosed so far, but Irish doctors estimate over 50,000 citizens have the virus.

Advocates are urging the Irish government to begin mass screening and awareness programs to identify all those affected and to prevent further HCV cases.

To read the article, click here.