The Wire

It has been revealed that nearly 100 people may have been exposed to blood borne diseases at a Canberra hospital where some instruments have not been properly sterilised over 20 years. Australians might be also shocked to learn they’re at risk of contracting Hepatitis C whenever they get a new body piercing or tattoo – because equipment may not be properly sterilised. Medicos say Hepatitis C also poses a serious, ongoing risk to IV users, sex industry workers, patients who received transfusions before 1990, and prisoners. But the Qld Hepatitis Council’s Jake Lewis says retroviral therapy is providing better immunity and health for some people with Chronic Hep C infections.