It is estimated that 3% of the world population have been infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which means there are more than 170 million chronic carriers at risk of developing liver cirrhosis and/or liver cancer.
Hep. C in Australia
The latest estimates suggest that there are approximately 74,200 Victorians who have been infected with hepatitis C, and 271, 000 people nationwide. Across Australia there are currently an estimated 9,700 new infections every year.
- Around 200,000 people nationwide are estimated to be chronically infected with the Hep C virus
- 22,000 Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people were estimated to have hepatitis C antibodies
- Of the 30,000 - 35,000 people held in prisons, 9,000 - 14,00 have been exposed to hepatitis C while 7,000 - 11,000 have chronic hepatitis C.
- Over 80% of the people with hepatitis C antibodies living in Australia were estimated to have been exposed through injecting drug use and 10% were from countries of high hepatitis C prevalence
- Hepatitis C prevalence rates in antenatal patients, health care workers and first time blood donors are all less than 1%.
- It is estimated that at least 40,000 Australians may have been exposed to the hepatitis C virus but remain undiagnosed.
Source: National Hepatitis C Resource Manual 2nd Edition