Cervical cancer could be wiped out within 20 years in Australia due to country’s world-leading vaccination and screening rates
Australia’s introduction of the pap test in 1991 led to cases halving and could soon see it wiped out altogether
CERVICAL cancer could soon be wiped out in Australia, say experts.
Oz’s world-leading vaccination and screening rates mean the disease should be eliminated as a public health issue within 20 years.
And it is likely be classed a “rare cancer” by 2022 as the number of cases there falls from seven people per 100,000 to less than six.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women, killing 250,000 worldwide a year.
Nearly all cases (99.7 per cent) are caused by infection from a high risk HPV, a sexually transmitted infection.
Australia’s introduction of the pap test in 1991 led to cases halving.
The Sun says
BRITAIN should match Australia’s commitment to eliminate cervical cancer within the next 20 years.
Their screening and vaccination scheme has brought the number of new cases down to nearly zero, and they intend to finish the job.
It is EXACTLY what we should aspire to. Here, this avoidable disease takes nearly a thousand mothers, sisters, daughters and wives each year.
They could still be alive.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock should set a target for the UK, too.
And secure funding to consign cervical cancer to the dustbin of history.
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In 2007 the country became one of the first to introduce a HPV vaccination scheme for girls. This was extended to boys in 2013.
Vaccination rates in Australia are now at 79 per cent for girls at aged 15 and 73 per cent for boys. Its current annual rate of seven cases per 100,000 is about half the global average.
Many women will be infected with HPV over their lifetime without any ill-effect.
In the majority of cases there are no symptoms and the infection clears on its own.