Australian Report on Mesothelioma Cases Released

11 Oct, 2012 03:00 CET

A report released by Safe Work Australia confirmed there were 612 newly diagnosed cases of mesothelioma in that country in 2011.

According to Occupational Health & Safety magazine, Safe Work Australia said that the figure likely underestimated the total number of new Australian mesothelioma diagnoses last year due to possible delays in confirming or coding. 

As of August, there were 310 deaths in 2011 among the diagnosed cases.

The report was drawn from the Australian Mesothelioma Registry, a national registry that began collecting data on new diagnoses last year. Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos.

Almost 84.5 percent of the diagnosed cases included men; 78.8 percent were aged above 65 at the time of detection, according to Occupational Health & Safety. Workers at greatest risk of occupational asbestos exposure were in the construction/building and electrical sectors.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, call Sokolove Law today for a free consultation regarding a mesothelioma lawsuit.