Hepatitis C reinfection may be higher than previously thought

A study, in the 1 May 2012 Journal of Infections Diseases, says that the incidence of reinfection with Hepatitis C after the body has cleared the virus may be higher than previously thought.

It was thought that most people are not able to clear the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) but those that did (approximately one in four) would not have immunity for life, this has implications for the development of the Hepatitis C vaccine.

Prof. Jason Grebeley of the Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, one of the authors of the study, told delegates at the International Liver Congress in Barcelona: “Are we detecting re-infection or failure of treatment? It depends on the [viral] sequence being examined,” he told a symposium on hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevention and treatment in injecting drug users, organised by the European Liver Patients Association (ELPA).

It is also thought that people who clear the Hepatitis C virus continue with their high risk behaviour and so are likely to get infected again.

Further details of the study on reinfection can be read about here.

Better2Know can test for Hepatitis C just 10 days after potential exposure along with Hepatitis B and HIV.  The Hepatitis C Test is available at all of our clinics.