Cervical cancer could be eliminated in Australia within 40 years, experts say

Experts are claiming that the end of cervical cancer is within sight and Australia is likely to be the first nation free of the killer disease thanks to the ground-breaking human papillomavirus vaccine.

As new research reveals the rate of HPV has dropped from one in five young Australian women a decade ago to just one in 100, leading cervical cancer experts will today announce that the disease is expected to be eradicated worldwide in the next 30-40 years.

Having led the way with HPV immunisation, Australia is forecast to be the first nation regarded as free of cervical cancer, according to the International Papillomavirus Society, which advises the World Health Organisation and leads global policy on the disease.