Suncorp Stadium will light up green tonight in recognition of World Hepatitis Day and liver disease on Wednesday 28 July.
 
Liver disease is on the rise in Queensland with up to 1 in 5 people living with liver disease and 1 in 100 living with viral hepatitis.
 
Speaking ahead of World Hepatitis Day, Hepatitis Queensland CEO Dr Katelin Haynes highlighted the need for greater public awareness of liver health.
 
“Anyone can get liver disease and most people do not know they have it. Left untreated, liver disease can lead to permanent liver damage such as cirrhosis or liver cancer,” Dr Haynes said.
 
“The good news is simple lifestyle behaviours can reduce the risk of serious liver disease.  As well as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and drinking alcohol responsibly, Queenslanders can see their GP for a liver health check and hepatitis test.”
 
Because there are often no symptoms, those with hepatitis B and C can live for many years without realising they have the virus, unaware of the damage being caused to their liver.
 
By 2030 we have the opportunity to virtually eliminate hepatitis with highly effective treatments that can cure or slow the disease before it leads to more serious problems caused by liver inflammation.
 
Simple treatments can cure hepatitis C in 95 per cent of patients with little to no side-effects. Hepatitis B can be prevented through vaccination or managed long-term with monitoring and treatment that can slow the virus.
 
The Queensland World Hepatitis Day theme is ‘Get Smart About Your Liver’ which highlights the causes of liver disease and who is affected. To join the urgent mission this World Hepatitis Day, visit www.liversmart.com.au to ‘Get Smart’ about liver health.