Hi Lloyd,
It seems that the USA was not the only country
that knew HCV was infecting the blood supply
back in the 80's. I wonder what they know about
now that their not disclosing to the public.
B.
By Carol Nader
The former Commonwealth Serum Laboratories has
admitted it knew in the 1980s that there was
a risk of contracting hepatitis C through its
treatments, but said the virus was considered
relatively minor.
CSL medical and research director Daryl Maher
told a national Senate inquiry in Melbourne
yesterday that hepatitis C, then known as non-A
and non-B hepatitis, was considered an "innocuous"
condition in the 1980s - but that its dangers
are known now.
The costs of contracting the virus were considered
minor when weighed against the benefits of the
Factor 8 it manufactured - used by patients
with hemophilia, he said.
The admission follows accusations that CSL,
which makes blood plasma products, and the Australian
Red Cross Blood Service knowingly infected thousands
of people with hepatitis C in the 1980s, before
appropriate screening was implemented.
CSL has been tight-lipped until questioned yesterday
about its role in what victims have called "the
most significant medical tragedy in recent times".
It has provided a confidential submission
to the inquiry. Chairwoman Senator Jan McLucas
said this was unusual and asked CSL to consider
making itpublic.
CSL and the Blood Service have also been accused
of failing to use screening equipment used in
the United States, known as ALT or surrogacy
testing, that could have reduced the risk of
transmission of hepatitis C by as much as 50
per cent.
But Dr Maher told the inquiry that the test
was not always accurate in detecting hepatitis
C. Hepatitis C attacks and disables the liver.
In the worst case it can be fatal and some sufferers
require a liver transplant.
Charles MacKenzie, administrator of the Tainted
Blood Product Action Group, which represents
thousands of people who have been infected through
blood transfusions and intravenous blood products,
said CSL had infected about 90 per cent of its
core customers.
"That's a hell of a record. They knew that
the blood supply was unsafe, they knew that
people were going to be infected, and in hundreds
and perhaps thousands of cases they didn't adequately
warn consumers about the risks," he said.
"It should be noted that CSL also managed
to infect hundreds of Australian hemophiliacs
with HIV as well."
Apart from those suffering hemophilia, a condition
where the blood does not clot, the other big
victims were women given blood during childbirth.
Mr MacKenzie, who will present his submission
to the hearing today, said he was still approached
by people who had only just found out they had
hepatitis C "through failing health".
Earlier notification would have enabled
patients to get to hospital sooner and "try
and halt
progression of this deadly virus", he said.
Hundreds had already died.
The inquiry heard the disaster might have been
averted if the blood had been given an 80-degree
heat treatment that might have destroyed the
hepatitis C.
Dr Maher said it was believed at the time that
heating could undermine the quality of Factor
8. The technique was later introduced in 1989. The
Red Cross will present its submission in Sydney
tomorrow.
