Where does treatment fit into the strategy to control hepatitis C?

The prevalence of hepatitis C varies greatly between countries of the Asia- Pacific region. The incidence of new cases is also markedly different betwe en countries, particularly related to the prevalence of injecting drug use. Overall, the currently available treatments for hepatitis C are unlikely t o have a major impact in the control of the infection from a population per spective while success rates are relatively low (20-45% sustained antiviral response) and treatment costs are high. There are some specific situations , such as reducing the incidence of mother-to-baby transmission or sexual t ransmission, where antiviral treatment can be used as a strategy to prevent further infection. The major aims of prevention of hepatitis C infection s hould lie with public health measures to prevent new infections, particular ly amongst injecting drug users, and ultimately the development of an effec tive vaccine. (C) 2000 Blackwell Science Asia Pty Ltd.