Following reports of almost 1,000 cases of hepatitis C in the past 12 months, the Department of Health has launched an eight-week regional advertising campaign to raise awareness of blood-borne viruses.
Control Director of Communicable Disease at the Department, Dr Paul Armstrong said it was a timely reminder for people to get tested.
“Blood-borne viruses, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV are transmitted by blood,” Dr Armstrong said.
“Hepatitis B and HIV can also be transmitted through sexual activity,” he said.
“People with blood-borne viruses often look and feel healthy, so they do not have indications that they are living with the virus.”
Dr Armstrong said the campaign was developed in consultation with Aboriginal health workers and leaders from regional and metropolitan areas to ensure it resonated with Aboriginal people.
“It consists of radio, online and social media advertising, using key messages such as Look After Your Blood and Never Share Needles,” he said.
“Hepatitis C cases have remained high in the Aboriginal population, while steadily falling in the non-Aboriginal population.
“The proportion of newly-diagnosed HIV infections in Western Australia attributed to injecting drug use is also much higher in Aboriginal people than non-Aboriginal people.”
The Control Director said it was crucial to increase awareness among Aboriginal people that by sharing injecting equipment, such as needles, they could make themselves sick and this could impact on their communities.
“A range of treatments are now making it possible for people with blood-borne viruses to continue to live long and healthy lives if the virus is detected early,” Dr Armstrong said.
