Hepatitis Victoria is calling on state and federal governments to fund hepatitis C prevention and treatment programs in the face of growing case reports.
In the past 12 months, nine people were diagnosed with the virus in Melton, bringing total numbers to 122. The data also revealed 10 people in Moorabool are living with hepatitis C.
Hepatitis Victoria chief executive Melanie Eagle said governments and communities must take urgent action to end hundreds of preventable deaths that occur each year from viral hepatitis.
“For those Victorians living with hepatitis C, who want to receive treatment but are waiting for medicines to be PBS-listed, it is essential that the federal government subsidises these new medicines as soon as possible,” Ms Eagle said. “Left untreated, hepatitis B and C can cause serious liver disease – including liver cancer, liver cirrhosis and liver failure.
“Many people have very few, if any symptoms until the liver becomes severely damaged.”
She urged people to understand the risk factors for these diseases and said Hepatitis Victoria had called for subsidies and the government to “remove the barriers” to doctors prescribing and treating the disease.
Rapid testing for hepatitis C and extending the availability of the hepatitis B vaccine were also needed.
