Frozen berries 'fiasco' shows public's disinterest in hepatitis 'epidemic'

In June last year there were four cases of hepatitis A linked to one brand of frozen berries which originated from China.

That outbreak followed an episode in February 2015 when a brand caused an outbreak of hepatitis A affecting 24 people, with one person hospitalised.

Hepatitis ACT executive officer John Didlick said while Australia was in the midst of a hepatitis B and C "epidemic", hepatitis A is generally far less serious and affects far fewer people.

There are about 8000 Canberrans currently living with hepatitis B or C, while only a handful of hepatitis A cases are reported each year.

"It is my view that the media and the public were concerned and interested in these two hepatitis A outbreaks because 'innocent people were at risk'," Mr Didlick said.

"Despite the fact that only 28 people nation-wide were affected by two outbreaks over two years, and safe and effective vaccines are available, more column inches were dedicated to frozen berries than are ever spent on the risks and impacts of hepatitis B and C affecting large numbers of Australians."

Hepatitis B and C are both blood-borne viruses while hepatitis A is mainly spread through contaminated food or water.

Mr Didlick said hits on Hepatitis ACT and Hepatitis Australia's websites skyrocketed during the period - ACT's jumping from a handful before the outbreak in February 2015 to just under 1200 days later.

"Although Hepatitis ACT would never implement campaigns that aim to generate alarm and hysteria, there are health campaigns that have done exactly that and are considered to be very successful," he said.

"What we can learn from these examples and the response to the frozen berries fiasco is that the public cares a whole lot more when they think they are at risk, and cares a whole lot less when they think the problem affects 'them, not us'."