Hepatitis C Virus
The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is an infection of the liver and can be acute or chronic. In most cases acute infections become chronic. Unlike Hepatitis A & B there is no vaccine for HCV. Hepatitis C is a blood borne illness, and is most often transmitted through injection drug use and exposure to HCV infected blood. Although it is less commonly spread through sexual behaviors, it is still possible to contract HCV through them. In many cases, a person with HCV will be without symptoms. Left untreated HCV can cause cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer.
Approximately 3,200,000 individuals in the US are living with HCV according to the CDC. However, there has been speculation about the accuracy of HCV reporting. Unlike HIV/AIDS, HCV has only been in the national spotlight of infectious disease for a relatively short period of time. Since it started being monitored more recently, the data collection methods and results are not as accurate as the ones for HIV/AIDS. Although Hepatitis C is dangerous of its own accord, it becomes a far greater problem as it increases susceptibility to co-infections. Approximately 25% of all individuals living with HIV are also HCV+. In this specific population liver damage occurs more rapidly and leads to higher rates of mortality. To learn more about HCV please see the resources below, and check the CDC website for more information.
