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Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C
Statutory notification alert
Hepatitis C is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
See
notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB)
.
Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for
metropolitan residents (PDF 209KB)
or
regional residents (PDF 208KB)
.
For notification of regional residents see contact details of
public health units
.
See also description of
statutory medical notifications in Western Australia
.
Public health management
Important information
Infectious agent
: Hepatitis C virus.
Transmission
: Hepatitis C is usually passed on through direct contact with infected blood. An infected mother can pass hepatitis C on to her baby during childbirth. Sexual transmission is rare.
Incubation period
: From 2 weeks to 6 months but usually 6 to 9 weeks.
Infectious period
: From weeks before to months after onset. Long-term carriers may be infectious for life.
Case exclusion
: Do not exclude.
Contact exclusion
: Do not exclude.
Treatment
: Antiviral treatment for people with chronic hepatitis B as recommended by the Guidelines for Managing Sexually Transmitted Infections - WA.
Immunisation
: None available. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for people diagnosed with hepatitis C. See
Guidelines for the Provision of Hepatitis A and B Vaccine to Adults in Western Australia at Risk of Acquiring These Infections by Sexual Transmission and Injecting Drug Use (PDF 362KB)
.
Case follow-up
: Is the responsibility of health care providers.
Guidelines
Silver book – Guidelines for managing sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses
Australian national guidelines for the management of healthcare workers living with, or exposed to, bloodborne viruses (external site)
Management of Occupational Exposure to Blood or Body Fluids in Healthcare Settings
Guidelines for the Provision of Hepatitis A and B Vaccine to Adults in Western Australia at Risk of Acquiring These Infections by Sexual Transmission and Injecting Drug Use
Guidelines for the Provision of needle and syringe programs (NSP) in Western Australia
Guidelines for the Operation and Maintenance of Needle and Syringe Vending Machines (NSVM) and Needle and Syringe Dispensing Machines (NSDM)
Skin Penetration Code of Practice (PDF 324 KB)
Communicable Disease Guidelines for teachers, childcare workers, local government authorities and medical practitioners (PDF 358KB)
Notifiable disease data and reports
Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
General infectious disease reports
Produced by
Public Health
Related links
Hepatitis C (Healthy WA)