The world-first national achievement could happen within 20 years, modelling shows.
Australia will become the first country to effectively eliminate cervical cancer if vaccination and screening rates are maintained.The disease could be eradicated as a public health issue nationality within 20 years, according to new modelling.
It is predicted to be classified as a "rare cancer" in Australia by 2022, when it should drop to less than six cases per 100,000 people.
Scientists attribute the progress to national prevention programme s.
In 2017, Australia become one of the first countries to introduce a Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination scheme for girls.The programme was later extended to boys.
It completed a national screening that began in 1911.
The new modelling was published by the Cancer Council New South Wales (NSW), a charity, in The Lancet Public Health Journal📓on Wednesday.
Elimination efforts
Cervical cancer is caused by "high-risk" types of HIV, a sensually transmitted infection. It is fourth most frequent cancer in women and has a high mortality rate globally, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Australia's current annual cervical cancer rate stands at seven cases per 100,000 people,about the half the global average.
High risk types of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer.The study predicted that annual cases in Australia would drop to four in 100,000 by 2035 a potential elimination threshold, the researchers suggested.
The WHO has not yet established such a standard for when cervical cancer becomes so uncommon it is deemed eliminated.
"Regardless of what the [elimination] threshold is,it is likely Australia would be the first country to reach it given our current low rate of cervical cancer,and our strong strong prevention programme s". Dr Megan Megan Smith, a researcher from Cancer Council NSW told to the BBC.
Source: NHS Choices
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