World Hepatitis Day Saturday: In Search of Millions of Affected People

Chronic hepatitis C can be cured between 98 and 100% in eight to twelve weeks thanks to modern treatment. But around the world – and in Austria – it remains undefeated because the number of unreported cases is high. The motto of this year's World Hepatitis Day, Saturday, is "Find Missing Millions". The goal is to find patients still undiscovered in order to treat them quickly, prevent long-term consequences and contain new infections.

"Worldwide, 71 million people are affected by chronic hepatitis C. 30,000," said Petra Munda, chief of ambulatory hepatitis service at the AKH Vienna. Munda said that

Effective therapy against the virus

Fortunately, with the oral therapy available since 2011 against the hepatitis C virus, the numbers have been drastically reduced. Virus (HCV) the opportunity to eradicate this disease worldwide. The World Health Organization has set the ambitious goal of 2030: 90% of diagnosed cases, 80% treated, 65% mortality.

20 to 25% of patients with chronic hepatitis C – particularly transmitted by the blood – develop liver cirrhosis within 25 years, resulting in liver failure or carcinoma. Hepatitis was the most common cause of liver transplantation as of 2014. "Since 2016, we have more casualties of hepatitis C on the waiting list," he said. said Munda. In Austria, all those affected can already be treated – but only in 33 special centers.

Angelika Widhalm, President of Hepatitis Aid Austria, states: "Every year, more people die of HCV in the EU than HIV, about 15 million Europeans are infected, 27,000 to 29,000 New cases of HCV are diagnosed each year in the EU and in the European Economic Area. "Prevention remains important, especially in high-risk groups such as drug addicts who inject narcotics." Among our services (with opioid dependence), few are not in substitution therapy " said Margit Hinterleitner, Chief Medical Officer of the Directorate General of Prison Administration at the Department of Justice

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