Hepatitis awareness

An estimated 304 million people worldwide live with chronic hepatitis B and C, and six thousand people are infected each day.¹

But most of them don’t realise they have hepatitis – only 10% of people with hepatitis B and 20% with hepatitis C have been diagnosed.^{2, 3}

According to the World Hepatitis Alliance, the five main barriers to being diagnosed are:

• lack of public knowledge of the disease
• lack of knowledge of viral hepatitis among healthcare professionals
• lack of easily accessible testing
• stigma and discrimination
• out-of-pocket costs to patients for testing.⁴

Although there’s a cure for hepatitis C and a vaccine and treatment available for hepatitis B, the lack of awareness results in one million preventable deaths each year.³

For populations that are at higher risk of catching hepatitis such as Indigenous peoples, sex workers, people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, and those in prisons, treatment can be difficult to access.^1,3

The World Health Organization's (WHO) 2022-2030 global hepatitis strategy aims to reduce new infections by 90% and deaths by 65%.⁵

The WHO has estimated that 4.5 million premature deaths and 2.1 million cases of cancer could be prevented in low- and middle-income countries by 2030 through vaccination, testing, medication and education.^1,2,5

World Hepatitis Day

July 28 every year is World Hepatitis Day. It’s one of the few ‘world health days’ officially recognised by the WHO. The campaign is organised each year by the World Hepatitis Alliance.⁶

‘It’s time for action’ is the theme for World Hepatitis Day 2024. Addressing stigma and discrimination against people with hepatitis is a major focus for this year’s campaign.

In over one hundred countries, partners and allies of the movement are calling for action to end this preventable disease.

The aim for World Hepatitis Day 2024 is to unite the world’s hepatitis community, celebrate their achievements, and raise awareness for this important issue.⁶

Locally, many Australian hepatitis organisations are hosting events.

To find out more about the campaign and what you can do to help visit the World Hepatitis Day website.

Treatment for hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that damages the liver, and can cause liver disease and liver cancer.⁷

It’s transmitted when a person’s blood comes into contact with infected blood. This can happen through:

• sharing needles, syringes or other injecting equipment
• unsterile tattoo and body piercing needles
• sharing toothbrushes, razors or nail files.⁸

You can’t get hepatitis C through casual contact, such as hugging, kissing, sharing a bathroom, or sneezing/coughing.⁸

New treatments for hepatitis C became available in 2016. The medications are known as direct-acting antivirals (or DAA). They’re easy to take, have a good success rate and have few side effects.⁷

DAA therapy has a 95-99% cure rate and the length of the treatment is much shorter than previous medications.^7,9 They can be prescribed by GPs as well as specialists, which makes it easier for people to be treated.7

Visit the Hepatitis Australia website for more information on hepatitis C.

Managing hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation and can lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), and increased risk of liver cancer and failure. It’s transmitted through blood and other body fluids such as semen and vaginal fluid.

Hepatitis B can be spread through:

• unprotected sex with someone who is infected
• childbirth, from a pregnant person who is infected spreading to their baby
• sharing needles, syringes or other injecting equipment including spoons
• tattooing or body piercing with unsterile equipment
• sharing toothbrushes, razors or nail files
• exposure to infected blood and body fluids from open cuts or sores^10,11

Hepatitis B isn’t spread through saliva or casual contact such as kissing, hugging or sharing food.¹¹

There’s no cure for hepatitis B, but a vaccine is available in Australia and is recommended for:

• infants
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• people who are immune compromised
• travellers to hepatitis B-endemic countries
• people whose occupation puts them at increased risk of getting hepatitis B, i.e., healthcare workers.¹²

Hepatitis B can be treated with antiviral medication that can help fight the disease and slow its ability to damage the liver.¹¹

For more information, visit Hepatitis Australia.

What you can do

Getting tested for hepatitis can help you make informed decisions.

You can get tested for hepatitis B and C at your GP. These aren’t part of other general blood tests, you have to ask for them. To find out more about testing, visit the Hepatitis Australia websites:

• hepatitis B
• hepatitis C.

If you have the virus, there are steps you can take to reduce the impact on your health. Speak to your doctor about this or call the National Hepatitis Infoline on 1800 437 222 for more information.

To get involved in hepatitis awareness, visit the Liverwell website.