The latest Viral Hepatitis Mapping Project National Report has been released and for the first time combines by hepatitis B and hepatitis C. The report reveals progress towards elimination across Australia is slowing down.

The full report provides updated estimates broken down by geographic area including state, territory, PHN and Statistical Area 3 level and identifies priority areas for response.

This year the report contains newly revised region-specific estimates of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) prevalence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, and adjusted chronic hepatitis C (CHC) prevalence and treatment uptake to account for people currently in correctional facilities. Also new this year is the inclusion of liver cancer incidence data with comparisons to CHB and CHC prevalence and other risk factors at a PHN level.

This report forms the baseline for assessing Australia’s progress towards meeting the targets set out in the Third National Hepatitis B Strategy and Fifth National Hepatitis C Strategy, which cover the period 2018-2022 and set out clear indicators for progress towards eliminating the impact of viral hepatitis.

The report can be viewed online here