Hepatitis C elimination a step closer

Alfred Health infectious disease physician A/Prof Joseph Doyle said a recent $1.4 million federal government grant will help enable a central system for managing the disease.

"Australia can eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat by sustaining high rates of hepatitis C treatment, but the nation’s rates of hepatitis C treatment have stalled over recent years,” A/prof Doyle said.

“All hepatitis C diagnoses are notified to health departments, so this partnership project will implement and evaluate a series of strategies across all states and territories and identify the most effective ways of following up notifications to enhance rates of hepatitis C treatment and cure in Australia."

He said if communication is enhanced, much-touted elimination is within grasp.

“We can offer a really effective treatment for Hepatitis C; it’s a totally curable virus and strong intervention prevents the spread. We’re looking to determine how we do that ethically and effectively.

“Currently about half of the population that we know have been infected with the virus have been treated.

“If we can use this project and get those numbers up to the 80 per cent mark, we can hit that elimination target and wipe out Hepatitis C as a public health threat.