Landmark hepatitis study tracks ancient human movements into Australia

In what they believe is an Australian first, researchers have used a unique strain of hepatitis B virus affecting Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory to deduce ancient human population movements into Australia.

Key points:

• Researchers have traced how a unique hepatitis B strain entered Australia
• It is the first research using a virus to look at the movement of ancient humans
• A senior Aboriginal health practitioner has called for more hepatitis screenings within her community
• Between 10 and 20 per cent of the Indigenous population of northern Australia carries the hepatitis B virus, which can lead to liver cancer and liver failure.

A project known as CHARM — Characterising Hepatitis B in Northern Australia through Molecular epidemiology — run by Menzies School of Health Research, has focused on patients with HBV infections since 2010.

Read more on the ABC website: Landmark hepatitis study tracks ancient human movements into Australia