Robotin, MonicaCopland, JoyTallis, G MColeman, DavidGiele, CarolienCarter, LouiseSpencer, JeneanKaldor, JohnDore, Gregory2015-12-132015-12-130815-9319http://hdl.handle.net/1885/78670Background: The purpose of the present paper was to determine recent patterns of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission in Australia through a national system of enhanced surveillance of newly acquired hepatitis C. Methods: Demographic, clinical, and risk behavior information on newly acquired hepatitis C cases from 1997 to 2000 was collected. Newly acquired hepatitis C included cases of HCV antibody seroconversion within a 12 month period and acute clinical hepatitis C cases. Results: Nine hundred and twelve cases of newly acquired hepatitis C were identified, representing 2.8% of all HCV notifications for this period.The majority of cases (72%) were diagnosed in people aged between 20 and 39 years. Injecting drug use was reported in the vast majority of cases (93%), with sexual transmission (2%) and tattooing (2%) reported in small numbers. HCV antibody sero-conversion was the mode of diagnosis in most cases (78%). Conclusions: Injecting drug use is the main route of HCV transmission in Australia. As only a small proportion of HCV infections are detected as newly acquired, enhanced surveillance procedures, including increased regular HCV testing of at-risk populations are required to more effectively monitor recent patterns of transmission.Keywords: virus antibody; acute hepatitis; adult; Australia; behavior; controlled study; demography; diagnostic procedure; female; health survey; hepatitis C; Hepatitis C virus; human; injection; major clinical study; male; medical information; priority journal; re Australia; Epidemiology; Hepatitis C; Newly acquired infection200410.1111/j.1440-1746.2003.03270.x2015-12-11