Blood Borne Viruses

The transmission of blood borne viruses (BBVs) from person to person can occur via injecting drug use, or as a result of risky behaviour from alcohol and other drug use [50865][35376]. These BBVs can include:

• hepatitis C
• hepatitis B
• HIV
• HTLV-1, which is prevalent in Central Australia [35376][50866].

If people who inject drugs share their equipment (needles, syringes, spoons, water or tourniquets) with other people, then there’s a chance they might be exposing themselves to a BBV [23505]. Some drug users might not realise they have a BBV, so it’s important to get tested regularly. To reduce the likelihood of passing on, or getting a BBV, there’s a few strategies that people can take:

• keeping your hands clean using soapy water (or swabbing with a new swab) before and after injecting drugs
• finding a clean area to inject in
• using new needles and syringes, sterile water and also spoon, swabs, filters and tourniquets
• do not share injecting equipment
• when finished, safely dispose of all the equipment [41459].

There are treatment options available for people who have hepatitis C. These treatments are combinations of Direct Acting Anti-viral (DAA) drugs which are listed on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme [36094]. These drugs have been found to have a very high success rate, with a cure rate for around 90% of people treated.

There is also medicine to prevent a person from acquiring HIV, an antiretroviral treatment called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This medicine comes in the form of a pill, taken daily, which will reduce the risk of getting HIV (but it will not treat it) [50205].