The Silent Threat: Mei Mak’s Journey with Hepatitis B and the Importance of Routine Testing
Hepatitis B: The Silent Threat and the Call for Awareness
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In the hustle and bustle of daily life, Mei Mak, a busy mother balancing the demands of young children and a career, found herself sidelining a critical aspect of her health—her Hepatitis B diagnosis. Diagnosed as a carrier before her marriage, Mei had never experienced any symptoms, allowing her condition to fade into the background of her busy life.
However, a routine annual check-up turned her world upside down. "My doctor found that my viral load had increased dramatically," Mei recalls, her voice tinged with the anxiety of that moment. "She alerted me and said, ‘Mei, I’m going to send you to the hospital.’ I started to feel scared and concerned." Since that day, Mei has returned every six months for closer monitoring, a stark reminder of the silent nature of her condition.
In Australia, nearly 300,000 people live with Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C, often without any warning signs of liver damage. Professor Gregory Dore from the Kirby Institute emphasizes the importance of routine testing, stating, "Because it doesn’t cause symptoms in the initial years, and sometimes even in the initial decades of infection, it can be termed the silent killer. People can have the infection and it can be causing damage to the liver, but they’re completely unaware."
Hepatitis Australia CEO Lucy Clynes highlights the urgency of understanding who is most at risk. "Half of that population are either undiagnosed or not connected to the care they need. Hepatitis is Australia’s leading cause of cancer death—we must connect people to care and support."
A new report from Hepatitis Australia poses a critical question: if 100 people were living with viral hepatitis, who would they be? The findings reveal that 69 would be living with Hepatitis B, while nearly a quarter would have Hepatitis C. Some individuals may even live with multiple forms of the virus.
While Hepatitis C is curable, it lacks a vaccine. Conversely, Hepatitis B has a vaccine and treatments available but no cure. The federal government aims to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by the end of the decade, but Hepatitis Australia warns that current progress may not meet this ambitious target.
Migrant communities are disproportionately affected by viral hepatitis, particularly Hepatitis B. Clynes stresses the need for culturally sensitive information and resources, noting that 70% of those affected by Hepatitis B are born overseas, with higher rates from Southeast Asia where mother-to-child transmission is more common. Additionally, over half of these individuals speak a language other than English at home.
Mei Mak has faced the stigma that often accompanies a Hepatitis diagnosis, but she urges others not to let fear deter them from seeking help. "It is important for people living with hepatitis liver disease to be brave and strong, to be curious about their liver health, and to seek help—even when there are no symptoms."
As awareness grows, so does the hope for a future where viral hepatitis is no longer a silent threat. The call to action is clear: routine testing, education, and support are essential in the fight against this often-overlooked health crisis.
