Insights offered on hepatitis C, services

Recent concern about the risk of hepatitis C to women who may have been treated at a private medical clinic in Melbourne highlights the need for increased awareness about the illness, clinical nurse specialist Margaret Fraser says.

Ms Fraser, who is the chairwoman of the reference group for Otago's Hepatitis C Resource Centre, said there was still widespread ignorance about the condition.

Many people, including some clinicians, were unaware there was drug treatment to cure it.

One of the common misconceptions among the general public was that they were immune from the illness because they had had " their shots".

Ms Fraser pointed out that vaccination for hepatitis covered only hepatitis A and hepatitis B.

Because the effects of the virus on the liver might not manifest themselves until years after the exposure, the illness was often referred to as "the silent epidemic".

Overseas travellers needed to be more aware of the risk of infection from such procedures as cosmetic surgery and tattoos.

International hospital care was often not up to New Zealand standards either, she said, citing a case where a traveller had been given bandages which had been washed and used again.

The resource centre is holding a special meeting in Dunedin tomorrow for those who may be involved with anyone with hepatitis C including occupational health representatives, infection control staff, tattooists, and medical personnel.

The aim was to help people learn more about the condition and the issues associated with it, the services available and to develop new strategies for dealing with the virus.

The half-day meeting would include presentations from Ms Fraser, general practitioner Dr Janet Downs and gastroenterologist Dr Michael Schultz.

It would also include a panel discussion with opportunity for questions from the floor.

Places at the meeting, to be held at the Hunter Centre in Great King St, were limited.

Registrations could be completed on line at www.hepcotago.org The Ministry of Health advises there have been 49 calls transferred to the Australian hepatitis C helpline where women can find out if they have any risk of the virus linked to an infected doctor who was at the Croydon Day Surgery, Croydon, Victoria from January 1, 2006, to December 7 last year.

Any woman with concerns she might be affected should contact 0800 611 116 for advice.

The Department of Health in Victoria is trying to trace 3500 women, including 55 giving a New Zealand address, who may have been exposed to the virus.

So far, 44 of the 746 tested have been found to have the virus.