Although expensive, these treatments represent a huge advance and are a cost-effective way to prevent both new infections and deaths due to existing hepatitis C infections. On Main Australia, new treatments were listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Around 80% of people infected with hepatitis C develop chronic infection those who do clear the infection naturally remain susceptible to future infections. Most hepatitis C infections in Australia were acquired through unsafe injecting drug use, however in some low-resource countries, ongoing transmission of hepatitis C in health care settings is a major problem. Active research into cures for hepatitis B infection is underway.Īn estimated 200,000 people live with chronic hepatitis C in Australia. In 2015 WHO released guidelines for treatment and care of hepatitis B which provide the essential framework for developing treatment and care programs across all settings. But even in a well-resourced country such as Australia, only a minority of people needing treatment and care for hepatitis B are receiving it and there is high variation in uptake according to region within Australia. These can prevent liver damage and liver cancer from occuring. In Australia, vaccination is also recommended for adults at greater risk of infection including household and sexual contacts of people living with hepatitis B people who inject drugs and health care workers.Įffective antiviral treatments are also available for chronic hepatitis B. Vaccination for all infants is recommended in Australia and the majority of countries globally, with coverage in 2017 reaching 84% of all children. In some countries, hepatitis B is still transmitted via use of unsterile medical equipment or transfusion of unsafe blood. Hepatitis B cannot be transmitted through hugging, kissing, sharing food and utensils for eating, insect bites, coughing, sharing bathroom and toilet facilities, or swimming pools. Hepatitis B can be transmitted from person to person through sex or blood-to-blood contact. Globally, the program has prevented millions of deaths from liver cancer and liver cirrhosis. It has been provided for all infants born in Australia since May 2000. A safe and highly effective vaccine has been available for hepatitis B since the 1980s. Following infection, the chance of developing chronic hepatitis B in infancy is around 90%, but falls to 5% among adults. Most people living with chronic (long-term) hepatitis B acquired it at birth early in life. Around 230,000 Australians are thought to be living with chronic hepatitis B. An estimated 250 million people live with hepatitis B worldwide, and up to one quarter will die as a result of their infection without effective care. This is the most prevalent form of viral hepatitis worldwide, and is the leading cause of liver cancer globally.
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