Hepatitis C rates may be much lower in NZ than we thought—but we aren't doing enough to eliminate it, experts say

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-08-15 00:01

New Zealand

Media Room Intendencia of Montevideo, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

An up-to-date model suggests about 18,000 people in NZ were living with hepatitis C in 2023—far fewer than in a previous estimate of 50,000 back in 2013. However, the researchers also estimate that half the infections are among 45-64 year-olds, many of whom may be undiagnosed after years with the virus, putting them at risk of serious liver disease. Aotearoa aims to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030—but despite it being less common than we thought, the researchers say we can only do this by testing more widely, and increasing the number of people receiving treatment from 450 to over 1,300 people a year.

Media release

From: Pasifika Medical Association Group

New modelling shows that far fewer people in New Zealand have hepatitis C than we thought—around 18,000 rather than 50,000—but many still don’t know they have it. If left untreated, hepatitis C can lead to serious liver damage. Although we have excellent treatments that can cure the virus, not enough people are being treated each year to meet our elimination goals. Community clinics and outreach vans have helped reach some of the most affected groups, but a wider approach is now needed. This could include offering one-off testing to all adults to find people who don’t yet know they’re infected. With a renewed push, New Zealand can still eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat.

Journal/
conference: New Zealand Medical Journal

Organisation/s: Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand, Ministry of Health, New Zealand Government

Funder: N/A

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