Factsheet - Preventing Hep C Transmission printable pdf download

Factsheet:

Preventing Hep C Transmission

For more information about anything in this factsheet, phone

the Hepatitis Infoline on 1800 803 990 or go to

Introduction

Hepatitis C (also called hep C) is Australia’s most frequently reported notifiable infectious

disease and is caused by the hep C virus (HCV). Evidence shows that it has been spreading

within Australia at least since the early 1970s although it has possibly been present for decades

prior to this.

Around 5,400 new hep C infections are estimated to be occurring annually (2013 statistics).

Hep C transmission

HCV is a blood borne virus (BBV). Transmission is possible when HCV-infected blood from one

person enters the bloodstream of another person.

In Australia, around 90% of new cases are estimated to occur as a result of blood-to-blood

contact through sharing or reusing any equipment used to inject illicit drugs.

Other cases can occur from unsterile tattooing and unsterile body piercing, and vertical

transmission (from mothers to their babies, during pregnancy and/or birth).

Around 5% of all cases in Australia have occurred through HCV contaminated blood transfusion

and blood products. These cases occurred before screening tests were introduced in 1990.

Some people in Australia contracted hep C through unsterile medical injections and other

medical procedures in their countries of origin.

Legal and political issues

Blood-to-blood contact while injecting drugs is the main transmission risk for hep C in Australia.

Because of its illicit nature, injecting drug users are often stigmatised and discriminated against.

This remains a major challenge for effective hep C prevention.

Drug user community organisations play a key role in hep C prevention and education, as well as

in representing the interests of drug users.

The hep C incidence (number of new cases each year) remains unacceptably high, even with

current hep C prevention and education initiatives such as Needle and Syringe Programs

(NSPs).

Ultimately, this should cause consideration of additional harm reduction initiatives such as heroin

prescription to registered users and medically supervised injection rooms.

Factsheet - Preventing Hep C Transmission