Hepatitis Australia is calling on Australians to get tested for hepatitis B and C in light of new data analysis that shows the makeup of Australia's hepatitis population is changing.
"It's a serious concern that nearly 300,000 people in Australia live with hepatitis B and C and nearly 1,000 Australians die each year from these preventable diseases," says Hepatitis Australia CEO Lucy Clynes.
"There is a simple cure for hepatitis C and treatment for hepatitis B, but many people aren't receiving them because they're unaware of their risk or disconnected from care."
This World Hepatitis Day, Hepatitis Australia is releasing a new report, If Hepatitis was 100 people, which shows that:
- The population of people affected by hepatitis B and hepatitis C in Australia is changing
- Many people in Australia don't realise they are at risk – eg. 1 in 3 people living with hepatitis B don't realise they have it.
- People are missing out on life-saving treatment and care.
We're not reaching everyone living with hepatitis C
Modern cures for hepatitis C are very effective and have minimal side effects.
"In Australia, the most common way that people got hepatitis C was through injecting drug use, so a lot of work has been done to ensure people who inject drugs are receiving the cure. That work has been really effective, which is why we're seeing a change in the population," Lucy Clynes says.
"While working with people who inject drugs will always be core business for community hepatitis organisations, 84 per cent of people living with hepatitis C in Australia no longer inject drugs or contracted hepatitis C in other ways. That could be things like unsafe tattooing, receiving a blood transfusion before 1990 (when screening was introduced) or getting a medical or dental procedure in a country with poor blood safety regulations. They are less likely to be interacting with services where hepatitis C is core business. We need to find new ways to reach them," Lucy Clynes says.
"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are disproportionately affected by hepatitis C and haven't experienced equal benefit from the national response. In hepatitis C outcomes, gaps are widening.
"With almost 30% of the prison population injecting while they are incarcerated, prisons are the primary sites of transmission for hepatitis C. While data isn't available nationally yet, our analysis shows that in NSW, 40% of all hepatitis C re-treatments are delivered in prisons and needle exchange programmes are needed to prevent transmission and re-infection."
People with hepatitis B need to be connected to care
For hepatitis B there is effective treatment which reduces the likelihood of liver disease and liver cancer, but there is no cure yet.
"Nearly 220,000 people in Australia are living with hepatitis B, but less than 25% are receiving regular care. Almost half of all people with chronic hepatitis B have not received care at any time in the last 10 years," says Lucy Clynes.
"Our analysis shows that more than half of all people living with hepatitis B might need information in languages other than English and support in culturally sensitive ways.
"While people born in Australia since the year 2000 (when hepatitis B vaccinations began being routinely offered) are protected against hepatitis B, people born before then, or those born overseas could be living with the virus and not know it because the symptoms often aren't obvious until the liver is severely damaged.
"Pregnancy is a key time when parents with hepatitis B are diagnosed, and we need to ensure that the whole family is getting the care they need to live long and healthy lives. Nearly one in 20 babies born to mothers with hepatitis B are not receiving the vaccine in time. We need to strengthen the monitoring of the hepatitis B 'birthdose' vaccine."
Viral hepatitis – what to look out for
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are the leading causes of liver cancer globally and in Australia, causing 90% of liver deaths. Liver cancer mortality rates are growing faster than any other cancer in Australia.
Hepatitis Australia President and infectious diseases expert, Professor Joseph Doyle, says testing is easy but hepatitis symptoms can be hard to spot.
"Most people have no symptoms of hepatitis B or hepatitis C until much later, when their liver might be seriously affected," Professor Doyle says.
"Routine blood tests don't routinely screen for hepatitis – you usually have to request it. It's a simple blood test with a follow up confirmation to see if the virus is active.
"There is a simple cure for hepatitis C, it's one tablet per day for up to 12 weeks.
"Not everyone will need treatment for hepatitis B, but if you do, it's a tablet a day to keep the viral load low and an annual liver scan to make sure your liver remains healthy.
"If you think you could be at risk of hepatitis B or hepatitis C, you can speak with a GP or call HepLink, Australia's hepatitis information service, on 1800 437 222.
