The number of instances of hepatitis in the ACT is
growing, and there are fears there may be more cases going undiagnosed
due to the stigma surrounding the virus.
There was a 25 per cent
increase in the number of people diagnosed with hepatitis C in the ACT
last year, and a 5 per cent increase in hepatitis B cases.
The
blood-borne virus causes inflammation of the liver, and can be spread
through the sharing of drug-taking equipment, like unsterilised syringes
or needles.
John Didlick from Hepatitis ACT said there are an
estimated 8,000 people in the ACT living with viral hepatitis, including
4,000 with hepatitis C.
Read more... Labels: australia, Epidemiology