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