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According to the World Health Organization, WHO, 71 million people worldwide are affected by the chronic form of the hepatitis C virus. Despite decisive improvements in therapy, there is no vaccination against hepatitis C.
AUSTRIA. This year’s Nobel Prize in Medicine is awarded to three scientists for their discoveries that led to the identification of the hepatitis C virus: Harvey J. Alter (USA), Michael Houghton (Great Britain) and Charles M. Rice (USA) Receive this year’s Nobel Prize in Medicine, as announced by the Nobel Prize Committee in Stockholm on Monday.
Hepatitis C is an infectious viral disease of the liver. According to the public health portal “Gesundheit.gv.at”, some 26,000 people are affected and infected by the virus in Austria. The hepatitis C virus can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis. The consequences can range from a mild course lasting a few weeks to a severe life-long illness. People with chronic diseases often suffer from cirrhosis or liver cancer. The most common cause of chronic hepatitis is fatty liver due to excessive alcohol consumption, followed by chronic viral hepatitis B or C and overeating or malnutrition.
BREAKING NEWS:
2020 #Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been jointly awarded to Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice “for the discovery of the hepatitis C virus.” pic.twitter.com/MDHPmbiFmS– The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 5, 2020
Hepatitis C infection often goes unnoticed
The infection often goes unnoticed for a long time, with the majority of those affected (about 75 percent) showing no symptoms or only non-specific symptoms. The disease is still associated with drug use or sexually transmitted diseases. The chance of getting infected during sex is much less than one percent. Blood infected with hepatitis C is transmitted, for example, through blood transfusions. According to “Gesundheit.gv.at”, the most common route of transmission in Austria is intravenous drug use. If, for example, several people use a syringe, the hepatitis C virus can be transmitted from one infected person to another in case of infection.
Early detection is crucial
Progressive and well-tolerated therapy now ensures that the cure rate is 97 to 99 percent. “However, it is essential that the disease is identified and treated as soon as possible. The sooner you get tested, the better, “said Petra Munda, a specialist in internal medicine, in an interview with the Wiener Bezirkszeitung. In addition to a detailed discussion (anamnesis), a so-called HCV antibody test is often performed at the beginning This is done after the blood sample Blood tests for hepatitis C antibodies in the laboratory, although it should be noted that these are only detectable two to three months after infection.
Saved millions of lives
The Nobel Prize Committee on Monday justified its decision saying that the three winners of the Nobel Prize in Medicine had made decisive contributions in the fight against “a major health problem that causes cirrhosis and liver cancer in people around the world.” Hepatitis A and B were already known, but could not explain most cases of hepatitis. With the discovery of the hepatitis C virus, blood tests and new drugs have been made possible that have saved millions of lives. Nobel Prize Committee member Patrick Ernfors also drew parallels with the feverish search for means to combat the corona virus: “First, you have to identify the virus that caused it,” says Ernfors. “Then you can develop drugs and vaccines.”
In the next few days the Nobel Prize winners in Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace and Economics will also be announced.
You can find more information about the hepatitis C virus at minimed.at
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