Hepatitis News
A regular wrap of hepatitis and health related news from Australia and around the world.
Seen a story you think we should post? Email rachel@hepatitisaustralia.com with your suggestion.
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Researchers probe hepatitis C - diabetes link
Australian scientists looked for the reason why people with Hepatitis C often go on to develop diabetes, and they made an unexpected discovery.
The needle and the damage done.
It's no wonder veteran rockers are frequent casualties of hepatitis C. But even they struggle with the stigma. Kate Legge sheds light on the silent epidemic.
The World Health Organisation Executive Board to recommend a resolution on viral hepatitis to the World Health Assembly in May.
If adopted, the resolution would for the first time provide a framework for international action to prevent, diagnose and treat hepatitis B and C.
In addition, the resolution would provide global support for an official World Hepatitis Day to provide a focus for national and international awareness-raising efforts.
“The adoption of the resolution by the World Health Assembly in May will be a clear statement that viral hepatitis now has the same priority as the other major world diseases” said Charles Gore, President of the World Hepatitis Alliance.
The 63rd World Health Assembly will take place in Geneva from 17 May until 21 May, 2010.
World Cancer Day - Joining Forces to Raise Awareness of Cancer-Causing Viruses.
Cancer Council NSW is taking to south west Sydney's streets on World Cancer Day, February 4, providing cancer information and encouraging people to get tested for hepatitis B, a virus that can cause liver cancer. Read the media release.
A new drug has suppressed hepatitis C in chimpanzees and has begun human clinical trials.
The new drug, SPC3649, works differently to existing drugs, binding to RNA required for virus replication and effectively preventing the virus from multiplying. Read the article here.
Viread available via the PBS on December 1, 2009
People living with chronic hepatitis B will be able to access treatment Viread via the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from December 1, 2009. Read the story here.
Free needles save tax-payers millions
Calls have been made to expand needle exchange programs across the country amid claims that supply is not keeping up with demand.
View the story at www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1116191/Free-needles-save-billions-in-tax.
New study vindicates needle exchange campaigners
A major study has found that for every dollar spent on needle and syringe programs the public purse is four dollars better off, but anti-drug campaigners remain unconvinced.
View the story at http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2721811.htm
Return on Investment 2: Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of needle and syringe programs in Australia
Researchers at UNSW's National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research have released the latest report which demonstrates that for every dollar invested in needle and syringe programs, four dollars are returned. Read the report here.
China to end required testing for hepatitis B
China will abolish mandatory testing for hepatitis B during physical examinations given to prospective college students, factory workers and government employees reports The New York Times.
National Preventative Health Strategy
Good medical practice
A Code of Conduct for Australian Medical Doctors.
Listen to audio from:
Associate Professor Stuart Roberts, Director of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne and
Professor Darrell Crawford, Professor of Hepatology, University of Queensland, Greenslopes Private Hospital
A conversation with Associate Professor Stuart Roberts discussing Fibroscan.
Miracle Cancer Vaccine "gets closer"
Adelaide researchers are confident they can develop a multipurpose vaccine that not only protects against infection... Read the full story here.
Chronic Hepatitis B - Is there such a thing as a 'healthy carrier'?
In this article, the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine examine the issue of hepatitis B and 'healthy carriers'.
National Hepatitis B needs assessment
The National Hepatitis B needs assessment has been released and is available for download.
Friday, 30 January 2009
New Treatment for Australians diagnosed with advanced, inoperable liver cancer
From 1st February 2009 a new treatment becomes available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for people with inoperable liver cancer. The new treatment, sorafenib tosylate (Nexavar), is the first therapy to be shown to reduce the time to tumour progression.
Friday, September 12 2008.
The Western Australian Department of Health has released a statewide Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) Report for 2007. The report makes recommendations with the intention of improving the coverage and quality of NSP services in WA. It's available to download from the WA Health website.
Friday, August 15 2008
The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society have released a report on improving and increasing access to hepatitis C treatment for people of Vietnamese and Cambodian backgrounds. The report is available under the heading New Reports on the ARCSHS website.
Monday, August 12 2008
News.com.au reports on a a Canadian Study about risk of contracting hepatitis B or hepatitis C transmission from accidental needle stick injuries. In an 19 year period across two Montreal Hospitals, 274 children were tested after needle stick injuries. Six months after injury, no HIV or hepatitis infections were found among the children tested. Although the results show risk is low, researchers say greater education about the dangers of discarded needles are needed.
Friday, August 1 2008
Australian Health Ministers have endorsed the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights at their July 22 meeting in Canberra.
The Charter applies to the whole healthcare system and allows patients, consumers, families, carers and services providers to have a common understanding of the rights of people receiving healthcare.
It is applicable to all health settings anywhere in Australia, including public hospitals, private hospitals, general practice and other ambulatory care environments. More information is available from the Safety and Quality in Healthcare website.
Thursday, July 17 2008
Hepatitis Australia issued a media release warning Australia's Olympic Athletes about the potential risks of getting celebratory Olympic themed tattoos. An ABC Newsradio interview with Hepatitis Australia CEO Helen Tyrrell is available from the ABC Website.
Tuesday, July 1 2008
The AIDS / Infectious Diseases Branch of NSW Health commissioned an extensive review of hepatitis C care and treatment services in NSW, with the main recommendation the number of people undergoing hepatitis C treatment needs to double to keep the current level of cirrhosis and liver cancer under control.
An article about the report is available on The Australian website and the complete report can be downloaded from the Hepatitis C Council of NSW site.
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Last nights Nightlife with Tony Delroy program on ABC Radio focussed on hepatitis, and included Gary Sattell from Hepatitis C Victoria and Helen Tyrrell from Hepatitis Australia as guests. The program discussed the results of Hepatitis C Victoria's Hepatitis C and Me survey, broad information about the different strains of hepatitis, transmission, prevention, symptoms, needle exchanges, and discrimination. You can download a mp3 of the 40 minute segment from the Nightlife Podcast page.
Monday, 1 April 2008
American singer Diamanda Galas, who performed in recent years at the Sydney Festival, the Melbourne International Arts Festival and the Adelaide Festival, discusses overcoming hepatitis C in this Sydney Morning Herald feature article.
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
The Sydney Morning Herald has an article about high rates of hepatitis C among juvenile offenders in NSW.
Friday, 22 February 2008
Its been widely reported New York health officials are urging patrons of a popular city nightspot to seek hepatitis A vaccinations after a bartender discovered he had contracted the virus. Among the well known patrons of the bar are celebrities Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher and Madonna. The original health department warning is available here.
Thursday, 7 February 2008
A Herald Sun online opinion editorial suggests Australia should go with a "opt out" model of organ donation, whereby people are automatically listed as organ donors unless they actively opt out. The editorial says the current model puts people at risk as some patients may purchase organs from countries that don't actively screen for hepatitis B or C.
Tuesday, February 5 2008
The Federal Government has announced $124 million in funding for new medical and health research projects, including a project involving HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. The hepatitis C specific project will design and test vaccines, recieving $17 million in funding. Further details on this and other funded projects are available on the National Health and Medical Research Council website.
Thursday, January 31 2008
The University of NSW Centre for Health Informatics has conducted some interesting research into the way people use the internet to find health information. Research involved posing questions to health professionals and non-professionals, and look at how online research could influence their answers. One of the questions posed to the non-professionals 'Can you catch hepatitis B from kissing on the cheek?'.
The answer is no, but the researchers found that many of the people who answered incorrectly continued to give the incorrect answer, even when given time to research the question online. A press release says the research has implications for the way health information is structured online.
Wednesday, January 30 2008
A study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology says daily marijuana use by people living with hepatitis C may result in greater risk of liver fibrosis.
Tuesday, January 29 2008
The Perth Sunday Times reports on a rise in the number of hepatitis C patients at Royal Perth Hospital. RPH nurse practioner Saroj Nazareth says hepatitis C patients treated at the hospital rose from 120 in 2006 to 170 in 2007.
Tuesday, January 22 2008
This Times Online article makes brief mention of current world heavyweight boxing champion Ruslan Chagaev. Chagaev's promoter says the champion boxer has lived with hepatitis B since he was a child.
Monday, January 21 2008
In this interview with CBS musical legend David Crosby discusses his life, including the day he found out he was living with hepatitis C.
Thursday, January 17 2008
Drug users in Ontario Canada will continue to receive glass pipes that reduce the risk of hepatitis C. The pipe program was initially cancelled by the city council, but received further funding after research showed it prevented sharing of injecting equipment.
Wednesday, January 16 2008
The Gold Coast Sun reports MP Jann Stuckey has called on the Palm Beach needle and syringe exchange to insist on used needles being returned. She says it is discriminatory to fine Doctors for not disposing of needles and not place similar restrictions on injecting drug users. Queensland Health says it does not discourage return of used needles to the needle exchange, but rather promotes the use of individual disposal bins.
In a related item, MP Jann Stuckey has called on Gold Coast locals to have their say on the Palm Beach needle exchange as part of an offical government review. Surveys can be accessed through the Currumbin Electorate Office or online.
Tuesday, January 15 2008
Reuteurs UK reports on a trial comparing two major hepatitis C treatments. The trial involved 3,700 participants and found the two treatments were similarly effective.
Monday, January 14 2008
Following Fridays story about blood supplied to British Soldiers not undergoing the correct checks, the Weekend Australian says Australian Defence Officials are checking the status of thirty-one Australian Soldiers. Defence Spokesman Andrew Nikolic says 'It's a very low probability any of our people would have been infected'.
The Herald Sun reports on a new trend of DIY piercing kits being made available over the counter and via eBay. The Australian Medical Association has slammed the sale of these kits to teenagers, saying they put young people at risk of contracting hepatitis.
In this Harp magazine feature article Musician Alejandro Escovedo discusses the ups and downs of his rich career, including his battle with hepatitis C.
Friday, January 11 2008
Eighteen British Soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan may have been exposed to HIV and hepatitis C after it was revealed blood supplied by the United States did not undergo the correct checks. This story has been widely reported in the Australian media, but the original story was broken by UK newspaper The Sun.
An Adelaide Advertiser article on vaccination mentions hepatitis C rates in South Australia have fallen to a five year low, although the figures could potentially rise. 'SA Department of Health's summary of notifiable disease in SA for 2007 is not yet fully up to date, so these figures may change slightly' says Communicable Diseases director Ann Koehler .
The Aboriginal Health Worker Forum on Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Health Promotion will take place Sunday 2 March 2008 at the Courtyard Marriott, Surfers Paradise. Registrations for the Forum and Workshop are now open and registration is free. Download the flyer, or see www.health.gov.au for more information.
Thursday, January 10 2008
The American Liver Foundation has conducted an exclusive interview with Naomi Judd, who contracted hepatitis C from a needlestick injury while working as a nurse. The country music starhas since successfully undergone treatment, but says 'I will never be free of hepatitis C as long as somebody else out there is suffering'.
Another celebrity, actress Natasha Lyonne (American Pie, Slums of Beverly Hills) discusses her experience of hepatitis C and her return to acting in this New York Times Profile.
In news closer to home the Sydney Star Observer reports on the Victorian Governments decision to consider allowing condoms in Victorian Prisons. The move comes after a series of studies indicate more than fifty percent of the male prison population have hepatitis C.