Hepatitis C Medical Notification 01/01/03 - 31/03/03
In
the first quarter of 2003, medical notifications of hepatitis C infection
were received for 128 (63%) males and 76 (37%) females. Among these 204
cases were 182 individuals newly diagnosed with hepatitis C infection (Table
2.1).
Medical
notification reported 74 individuals as having no previous hepatitis C
test while 22 individuals had earlier, positive tests (before 1995).
Thirty three individuals recorded a previous negative test; in 13 cases
within the last year and in 20 cases more than 12 months earlier. In a
further 75 cases the testing history was unknown.
In 133 (73%) newly diagnosed infections, past or present injecting
drug use was reported as a likely transmission route for hepatitis C virus
(Table 2.1).
At
diagnosis, most individuals were aged between 20 and 49 years, 95 (74%)
males and 60 (87%) females (Table 2.2).
Newly acquired infections - Incident Cases
Incident
cases are identified by hepatitis C antibody seroconversion within 12
months, or a positive test accompanied by acute clinical hepatitis not
ascribed to other causes. During the quarter 14 incident cases were identified; 13 had
negative serology in the previous 12 months and one case with clinical
hepatitis had a negative test more than 12 months earlier.
The
incident cases comprised five females and nine males. The probable mode of
transmission for hepatitis C virus was injecting drug use in 13
cases (Table
2.3). One case had several risks for
acquisition of hepatitis C virus including receipt of blood products,
which is currently under investigation. Most were in the 20 to 29 year
age-group at diagnosis (Table 2.4).
Two cases presented with clinical hepatitis.
Collated laboratory data for hepatitis C antibody tests
performed during the quarter are shown in Table 2.5.
Table 2.1
Hepatitis C
infection, 01/01/03 - 31/03/03.
Exposure category by sex.
|
Exposure category |
Male |
Female |
Total |
| |
No. |
% |
No. |
% |
No. |
% |
|
IDU* |
74
|
66
|
50
|
73
|
124
|
68
|
|
IDU/Tattoos |
7
|
6
|
2
|
3
|
9
|
5
|
|
Blood transfusion/products |
5
|
4
|
5
|
7
|
10
|
5
|
|
Tattoos |
8
|
7
|
1
|
1
|
9
|
5
|
|
High prevalence country*** |
10
|
9
|
4
|
6
|
14
|
8
|
|
Other** |
1
|
1
|
4
|
6
|
5
|
3
|
|
Unknown |
8
|
7
|
3
|
4
|
11
|
6
|
|
Total |
113
|
|
69
|
|
182
|
|
*
includes IDU in combination with categories other than tattoos
** includes -body piercing, blood contact
*** residence/medical treatment in a high
prevalence country
Table 2.2
Hepatitis C
infection, 01/01/03 - 31/03/03.
Age group by sex.
|
|
Male |
Female |
Total |
| Age group
(years) |
No. |
% |
No. |
% |
No. |
% |
|
<10 |
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
<1
|
|
10 - 19 |
1
|
1
|
3
|
4
|
4
|
2
|
|
20 - 29 |
27
|
24
|
27
|
39
|
54
|
30
|
|
30 - 39 |
34
|
30
|
20
|
29
|
54
|
30
|
|
40 - 49 |
34
|
30
|
13
|
19
|
47
|
26
|
|
³
50 |
17
|
15
|
5
|
8
|
22
|
12
|
|
Total |
113
|
|
69
|
|
182
|
|
Table 2.3
Newly acquired hepatitis C infection (Incident cases*)
01/01/03 - 31/03/03. Exposure category by sex.
|
Exposure category |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
IDU |
9
|
4
|
13
|
|
IDU/blood
product/body piercing |
-
|
1
|
1
|
|
Total |
9
|
5
|
14
|
*
Incident cases are newly acquired infections, see text
Table 2.4
Newly acquired hepatitis C infection (Incident cases*),
01/01/03 - 31/03/03. Age group by sex.
|
Age group (years) |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
20 - 29
|
5
|
5
|
10
|
|
30 - 39
|
2
|
-
|
2
|
|
40 - 49
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
|
50 - 59
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
|
Total
|
9
|
5
|
14
|
*
Incident cases are newly acquired infections, see text
Table 2.5
Summary of
hepatitis C antibody tests, 01/01/03 - 31/03/03.
Laboratory by sex.
|
Laboratory |
Male |
Female |
Unknown |
Total |
|
Private |
3602
|
4800
|
-
|
8402
|
|
Public |
4983
|
6715
|
131
|
11829
|
|
Total |
8585
|
11515
|
131
|
20231
|
|
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