Virology

Since 1991, Australia has had an organised approach to preventing cervical cancer. The National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP), using a Pap smear every two years in women aged 18–69, has resulted in a 50 per cent reduction in the incidence and mortality of this disease. In 2010, there were 818 new cases of cervical cancer in Australia and, in 2011, there were 229 deaths from this disease.