❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice from 2002 regarding Hepatitis C infections in Western Australia, including prevalence, reported cases, and the role of intravenous drug use in transmission.
AnsweredQoN 1415Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
HEPATITIS C
(1) How many persons in Western Australia are infected with hepatitis C? (2) How many incidents of infection with hepatitis C have been reported each year in Western Australia from 1985 to the present? (3) How many of these hepatitis C infections were caused through intravenous drug use? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
(1) How many persons in Western Australia are infected with hepatitis C? (2) How many incidents of infection with hepatitis C have been reported each year in Western Australia from 1985 to the present? (3) How many of these hepatitis C infections were caused through intravenous drug use? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Hepatitis C became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. From 1993 until the end of 2001 the number of cases that have been notified to the Department of Health is 11 629. An unknown number of people are affected who have not yet been diagnosed and/or notified. (2) 1993 - 1 122; 1994 - 1 317; 1995 - 1 150; 1996 - 1 157; 1997 - 1 140; 1998 - 1 262; 1999 - 1 180; 2000 - 1 812; and 2001 - 1 489. Hepatitis C was first identified in 1989 and became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. The number of hepatitis C notifications in Western Australia remained fairly stable from 1993 to 1999 at around 1 200 cases per year before rising significantly to more than 1 800 cases in 2000 following the inclusion of laboratory notified cases as per the above mentioned annual figures. This suggests that there had previously been substantial under-notification by medical practitioners. Hepatitis C infections known to be newly acquired are termed “incident” or “acute” cases while other cases are termed “prevalent” or “unspecified”. The above figures do not distinguish between incident and prevalent cases. (3) It is estimated that of all hepatitis C infections, 80 per cent were acquired through injecting drugs. For newly acquired infections, 91 per cent were acquired through injecting drug use. The high prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs means that even occasional risk taking behaviour - for example, sharing needles - may lead to transmission.
(2) How many incidents of infection with hepatitis C have been reported each year in Western Australia from 1985 to the present? (3) How many of these hepatitis C infections were caused through intravenous drug use? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Hepatitis C became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. From 1993 until the end of 2001 the number of cases that have been notified to the Department of Health is 11 629. An unknown number of people are affected who have not yet been diagnosed and/or notified. (2) 1993 - 1 122; 1994 - 1 317; 1995 - 1 150; 1996 - 1 157; 1997 - 1 140; 1998 - 1 262; 1999 - 1 180; 2000 - 1 812; and 2001 - 1 489. Hepatitis C was first identified in 1989 and became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. The number of hepatitis C notifications in Western Australia remained fairly stable from 1993 to 1999 at around 1 200 cases per year before rising significantly to more than 1 800 cases in 2000 following the inclusion of laboratory notified cases as per the above mentioned annual figures. This suggests that there had previously been substantial under-notification by medical practitioners. Hepatitis C infections known to be newly acquired are termed “incident” or “acute” cases while other cases are termed “prevalent” or “unspecified”. The above figures do not distinguish between incident and prevalent cases. (3) It is estimated that of all hepatitis C infections, 80 per cent were acquired through injecting drugs. For newly acquired infections, 91 per cent were acquired through injecting drug use. The high prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs means that even occasional risk taking behaviour - for example, sharing needles - may lead to transmission.
(3) How many of these hepatitis C infections were caused through intravenous drug use? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Hepatitis C became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. From 1993 until the end of 2001 the number of cases that have been notified to the Department of Health is 11 629. An unknown number of people are affected who have not yet been diagnosed and/or notified. (2) 1993 - 1 122; 1994 - 1 317; 1995 - 1 150; 1996 - 1 157; 1997 - 1 140; 1998 - 1 262; 1999 - 1 180; 2000 - 1 812; and 2001 - 1 489. Hepatitis C was first identified in 1989 and became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. The number of hepatitis C notifications in Western Australia remained fairly stable from 1993 to 1999 at around 1 200 cases per year before rising significantly to more than 1 800 cases in 2000 following the inclusion of laboratory notified cases as per the above mentioned annual figures. This suggests that there had previously been substantial under-notification by medical practitioners. Hepatitis C infections known to be newly acquired are termed “incident” or “acute” cases while other cases are termed “prevalent” or “unspecified”. The above figures do not distinguish between incident and prevalent cases. (3) It is estimated that of all hepatitis C infections, 80 per cent were acquired through injecting drugs. For newly acquired infections, 91 per cent were acquired through injecting drug use. The high prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs means that even occasional risk taking behaviour - for example, sharing needles - may lead to transmission.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Hepatitis C became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. From 1993 until the end of 2001 the number of cases that have been notified to the Department of Health is 11 629. An unknown number of people are affected who have not yet been diagnosed and/or notified. (2) 1993 - 1 122; 1994 - 1 317; 1995 - 1 150; 1996 - 1 157; 1997 - 1 140; 1998 - 1 262; 1999 - 1 180; 2000 - 1 812; and 2001 - 1 489. Hepatitis C was first identified in 1989 and became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. The number of hepatitis C notifications in Western Australia remained fairly stable from 1993 to 1999 at around 1 200 cases per year before rising significantly to more than 1 800 cases in 2000 following the inclusion of laboratory notified cases as per the above mentioned annual figures. This suggests that there had previously been substantial under-notification by medical practitioners. Hepatitis C infections known to be newly acquired are termed “incident” or “acute” cases while other cases are termed “prevalent” or “unspecified”. The above figures do not distinguish between incident and prevalent cases. (3) It is estimated that of all hepatitis C infections, 80 per cent were acquired through injecting drugs. For newly acquired infections, 91 per cent were acquired through injecting drug use. The high prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs means that even occasional risk taking behaviour - for example, sharing needles - may lead to transmission.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Hepatitis C became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. From 1993 until the end of 2001 the number of cases that have been notified to the Department of Health is 11 629. An unknown number of people are affected who have not yet been diagnosed and/or notified. (2) 1993 - 1 122; 1994 - 1 317; 1995 - 1 150; 1996 - 1 157; 1997 - 1 140; 1998 - 1 262; 1999 - 1 180; 2000 - 1 812; and 2001 - 1 489. Hepatitis C was first identified in 1989 and became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. The number of hepatitis C notifications in Western Australia remained fairly stable from 1993 to 1999 at around 1 200 cases per year before rising significantly to more than 1 800 cases in 2000 following the inclusion of laboratory notified cases as per the above mentioned annual figures. This suggests that there had previously been substantial under-notification by medical practitioners. Hepatitis C infections known to be newly acquired are termed “incident” or “acute” cases while other cases are termed “prevalent” or “unspecified”. The above figures do not distinguish between incident and prevalent cases. (3) It is estimated that of all hepatitis C infections, 80 per cent were acquired through injecting drugs. For newly acquired infections, 91 per cent were acquired through injecting drug use. The high prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs means that even occasional risk taking behaviour - for example, sharing needles - may lead to transmission.
(1) Hepatitis C became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. From 1993 until the end of 2001 the number of cases that have been notified to the Department of Health is 11 629. An unknown number of people are affected who have not yet been diagnosed and/or notified. (2) 1993 - 1 122; 1994 - 1 317; 1995 - 1 150; 1996 - 1 157; 1997 - 1 140; 1998 - 1 262; 1999 - 1 180; 2000 - 1 812; and 2001 - 1 489. Hepatitis C was first identified in 1989 and became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. The number of hepatitis C notifications in Western Australia remained fairly stable from 1993 to 1999 at around 1 200 cases per year before rising significantly to more than 1 800 cases in 2000 following the inclusion of laboratory notified cases as per the above mentioned annual figures. This suggests that there had previously been substantial under-notification by medical practitioners. Hepatitis C infections known to be newly acquired are termed “incident” or “acute” cases while other cases are termed “prevalent” or “unspecified”. The above figures do not distinguish between incident and prevalent cases. (3) It is estimated that of all hepatitis C infections, 80 per cent were acquired through injecting drugs. For newly acquired infections, 91 per cent were acquired through injecting drug use. The high prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs means that even occasional risk taking behaviour - for example, sharing needles - may lead to transmission.
(2) 1993 - 1 122; 1994 - 1 317; 1995 - 1 150; 1996 - 1 157; 1997 - 1 140; 1998 - 1 262; 1999 - 1 180; 2000 - 1 812; and 2001 - 1 489. Hepatitis C was first identified in 1989 and became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. The number of hepatitis C notifications in Western Australia remained fairly stable from 1993 to 1999 at around 1 200 cases per year before rising significantly to more than 1 800 cases in 2000 following the inclusion of laboratory notified cases as per the above mentioned annual figures. This suggests that there had previously been substantial under-notification by medical practitioners. Hepatitis C infections known to be newly acquired are termed “incident” or “acute” cases while other cases are termed “prevalent” or “unspecified”. The above figures do not distinguish between incident and prevalent cases. (3) It is estimated that of all hepatitis C infections, 80 per cent were acquired through injecting drugs. For newly acquired infections, 91 per cent were acquired through injecting drug use. The high prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs means that even occasional risk taking behaviour - for example, sharing needles - may lead to transmission.
(2) How many incidents of infection with hepatitis C have been reported each year in Western Australia from 1985 to the present? (3) How many of these hepatitis C infections were caused through intravenous drug use? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Hepatitis C became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. From 1993 until the end of 2001 the number of cases that have been notified to the Department of Health is 11 629. An unknown number of people are affected who have not yet been diagnosed and/or notified. (2) 1993 - 1 122; 1994 - 1 317; 1995 - 1 150; 1996 - 1 157; 1997 - 1 140; 1998 - 1 262; 1999 - 1 180; 2000 - 1 812; and 2001 - 1 489. Hepatitis C was first identified in 1989 and became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. The number of hepatitis C notifications in Western Australia remained fairly stable from 1993 to 1999 at around 1 200 cases per year before rising significantly to more than 1 800 cases in 2000 following the inclusion of laboratory notified cases as per the above mentioned annual figures. This suggests that there had previously been substantial under-notification by medical practitioners. Hepatitis C infections known to be newly acquired are termed “incident” or “acute” cases while other cases are termed “prevalent” or “unspecified”. The above figures do not distinguish between incident and prevalent cases. (3) It is estimated that of all hepatitis C infections, 80 per cent were acquired through injecting drugs. For newly acquired infections, 91 per cent were acquired through injecting drug use. The high prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs means that even occasional risk taking behaviour - for example, sharing needles - may lead to transmission.
(3) How many of these hepatitis C infections were caused through intravenous drug use? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Hepatitis C became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. From 1993 until the end of 2001 the number of cases that have been notified to the Department of Health is 11 629. An unknown number of people are affected who have not yet been diagnosed and/or notified. (2) 1993 - 1 122; 1994 - 1 317; 1995 - 1 150; 1996 - 1 157; 1997 - 1 140; 1998 - 1 262; 1999 - 1 180; 2000 - 1 812; and 2001 - 1 489. Hepatitis C was first identified in 1989 and became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. The number of hepatitis C notifications in Western Australia remained fairly stable from 1993 to 1999 at around 1 200 cases per year before rising significantly to more than 1 800 cases in 2000 following the inclusion of laboratory notified cases as per the above mentioned annual figures. This suggests that there had previously been substantial under-notification by medical practitioners. Hepatitis C infections known to be newly acquired are termed “incident” or “acute” cases while other cases are termed “prevalent” or “unspecified”. The above figures do not distinguish between incident and prevalent cases. (3) It is estimated that of all hepatitis C infections, 80 per cent were acquired through injecting drugs. For newly acquired infections, 91 per cent were acquired through injecting drug use. The high prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs means that even occasional risk taking behaviour - for example, sharing needles - may lead to transmission.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Hepatitis C became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. From 1993 until the end of 2001 the number of cases that have been notified to the Department of Health is 11 629. An unknown number of people are affected who have not yet been diagnosed and/or notified. (2) 1993 - 1 122; 1994 - 1 317; 1995 - 1 150; 1996 - 1 157; 1997 - 1 140; 1998 - 1 262; 1999 - 1 180; 2000 - 1 812; and 2001 - 1 489. Hepatitis C was first identified in 1989 and became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. The number of hepatitis C notifications in Western Australia remained fairly stable from 1993 to 1999 at around 1 200 cases per year before rising significantly to more than 1 800 cases in 2000 following the inclusion of laboratory notified cases as per the above mentioned annual figures. This suggests that there had previously been substantial under-notification by medical practitioners. Hepatitis C infections known to be newly acquired are termed “incident” or “acute” cases while other cases are termed “prevalent” or “unspecified”. The above figures do not distinguish between incident and prevalent cases. (3) It is estimated that of all hepatitis C infections, 80 per cent were acquired through injecting drugs. For newly acquired infections, 91 per cent were acquired through injecting drug use. The high prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs means that even occasional risk taking behaviour - for example, sharing needles - may lead to transmission.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Hepatitis C became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. From 1993 until the end of 2001 the number of cases that have been notified to the Department of Health is 11 629. An unknown number of people are affected who have not yet been diagnosed and/or notified. (2) 1993 - 1 122; 1994 - 1 317; 1995 - 1 150; 1996 - 1 157; 1997 - 1 140; 1998 - 1 262; 1999 - 1 180; 2000 - 1 812; and 2001 - 1 489. Hepatitis C was first identified in 1989 and became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. The number of hepatitis C notifications in Western Australia remained fairly stable from 1993 to 1999 at around 1 200 cases per year before rising significantly to more than 1 800 cases in 2000 following the inclusion of laboratory notified cases as per the above mentioned annual figures. This suggests that there had previously been substantial under-notification by medical practitioners. Hepatitis C infections known to be newly acquired are termed “incident” or “acute” cases while other cases are termed “prevalent” or “unspecified”. The above figures do not distinguish between incident and prevalent cases. (3) It is estimated that of all hepatitis C infections, 80 per cent were acquired through injecting drugs. For newly acquired infections, 91 per cent were acquired through injecting drug use. The high prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs means that even occasional risk taking behaviour - for example, sharing needles - may lead to transmission.
(1) Hepatitis C became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. From 1993 until the end of 2001 the number of cases that have been notified to the Department of Health is 11 629. An unknown number of people are affected who have not yet been diagnosed and/or notified. (2) 1993 - 1 122; 1994 - 1 317; 1995 - 1 150; 1996 - 1 157; 1997 - 1 140; 1998 - 1 262; 1999 - 1 180; 2000 - 1 812; and 2001 - 1 489. Hepatitis C was first identified in 1989 and became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. The number of hepatitis C notifications in Western Australia remained fairly stable from 1993 to 1999 at around 1 200 cases per year before rising significantly to more than 1 800 cases in 2000 following the inclusion of laboratory notified cases as per the above mentioned annual figures. This suggests that there had previously been substantial under-notification by medical practitioners. Hepatitis C infections known to be newly acquired are termed “incident” or “acute” cases while other cases are termed “prevalent” or “unspecified”. The above figures do not distinguish between incident and prevalent cases. (3) It is estimated that of all hepatitis C infections, 80 per cent were acquired through injecting drugs. For newly acquired infections, 91 per cent were acquired through injecting drug use. The high prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs means that even occasional risk taking behaviour - for example, sharing needles - may lead to transmission.
(2) 1993 - 1 122; 1994 - 1 317; 1995 - 1 150; 1996 - 1 157; 1997 - 1 140; 1998 - 1 262; 1999 - 1 180; 2000 - 1 812; and 2001 - 1 489. Hepatitis C was first identified in 1989 and became a notifiable disease in Western Australia in 1993. The number of hepatitis C notifications in Western Australia remained fairly stable from 1993 to 1999 at around 1 200 cases per year before rising significantly to more than 1 800 cases in 2000 following the inclusion of laboratory notified cases as per the above mentioned annual figures. This suggests that there had previously been substantial under-notification by medical practitioners. Hepatitis C infections known to be newly acquired are termed “incident” or “acute” cases while other cases are termed “prevalent” or “unspecified”. The above figures do not distinguish between incident and prevalent cases. (3) It is estimated that of all hepatitis C infections, 80 per cent were acquired through injecting drugs. For newly acquired infections, 91 per cent were acquired through injecting drug use. The high prevalence of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs means that even occasional risk taking behaviour - for example, sharing needles - may lead to transmission.
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