World first study looking at treatment for Hepatitis C in NSW prisons

The plans for the study were presented yesterday at Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference in Alice Springs. The study will begin recruiting prisoners in selected correctional facilities in New South Wales starting this month. Professor Greg Dore who is co leading the study said “there is significant evidence from the world of HIV research to suggest that treating an HIV positive person with antiviral drug therapy dramatically reduces their risk of passing the virus on. Our aim is to evaluate a similar strategy for hepatitis C in the prison setting in New South Wales, where there are extremely high numbers of existing and new hepatitis C infections.” The study is expected to take five years to complete.