Elimination of Hepatitis C Virus in Australia: Laying the Foundation

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2018 Jun;32(2):269-279. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2018.02.006.

Abstract

Australia is on-track to achieve World Health Organization hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination targets. An active HCV screening program led to 82% of HCV-infected population being diagnosed. An unrestricted direct-acting antiviral (DAA) program, launched in March 2016 resulted in an estimated 58,500 individuals (26% of total HCV-infected population, including 70% of those with cirrhosis) initiating treatment through 2017. Treatment uptake was high among sub-populations at greater HCV transmission risk with 22% of people injecting drugs and >60% of those with HIV/HCV coinfection initiating DAA treatment in 2016. A monitoring and evaluation program will inform strategies required to achieve HCV elimination targets.

Keywords: Australia; Direct acting antivirals, DAA, public health; Elimination; Hepatitis C, HCV; People who inject drugs.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Coinfection / drug therapy
  • Coinfection / virology
  • Disease Eradication / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Disease Eradication / methods*
  • Disease Eradication / organization & administration
  • Disease Eradication / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects
  • Hepacivirus / isolation & purification*
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis C / virology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Public Health / methods
  • Public Health / statistics & numerical data
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / virology
  • World Health Organization

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents