Author information
1Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: mmartinello@kirby.unsw.edu.au.
2Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
3Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
4Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a hepatotropic RNA virus that can cause acute and chronic hepatitis, with progressive liver damage resulting in cirrhosis, decompensated liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In 2016, WHO called for the elimination of HCV infection as a public health threat by 2030. Despite some progress, an estimated 57 million people were living with HCV infection in 2020, and 300 000 HCV-related deaths occur per year. The development of direct-acting antiviral therapy has revolutionised clinical care and generated impetus for elimination, but simplified and broadened HCV screening, enhanced linkage to care, and higher coverage of treatment and primary prevention strategies are urgently required.