New discovery 'may cure hepatitis C'
Though hepatitis C can now be managed and rarely results in death, over 70 per cent of those with the virus live with it for the rest of their lives.
It is estimated that two per cent of the population currently have the condition and experts have been striving to find a cure for years, though it seems that a team of specialists in the US may finally have done it.
In a new report, researchers from Johns Hopkins medical facilities in the US have noted the discovery of the strongest ever genetic alteration associated with the ability to get rid of the infection.
According to the experts, the findings may result in a treatment being developed which can rid the body of the virus and give the sufferer peace of mind.
The study was based on a recent investigation conducted at Duke University in North Carolina by David Goldstein.
On that occasion, experts found that a variation in a single chemical of DNA, known as a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), can help the immune response to hepatitis C viral infection
Mr Goldstein told those with affordable medical insurance that sufferers of the condition who also had the SNP had a greater chance of getting rid of the condition.
In the new Johns Hopkins research, published in the online journal Nature, experts attempted to find out how people who did not carry SNP could also benefit from treatment.
Dr David Thomas, professor of medicine and director of infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland, commented: "If we knew why some people got rid of the disease on their own, then maybe we could figure out ways to help other people who didn't. Or maybe even help prevent infections entirely."
The healthcare specialist told private medical insurance customers that the new findings are the "strongest clue yet" in formulating a cure for hepatitis C.
During the course of the study, he also noted that SNP does not occur in all populations, so more work may need to be done to target certain demographics, particularly those of African descent, who are less likely to clear the virus.
However, he remains upbeat that the Johns Hopkins researchers will be able to find out how to rid people of the condition.
Dr Chloe Thio, associate professor of medicine at the institute, commented: "This is an exciting step towards better understanding of what the immune response is against the virus so we can improve our therapies."
By James McCann
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