DO PEOPLE RECOVER FROM HEPATITIS C INFECTION?
Most people who test positive for HCV will always test positive. That means the infection continues in about 80% of cases. A small number of people are able to clear the virus from their blood after they are infected. HCV may lead to liver damage, cirrhosis and, once in a while, liver cancer, and may take up to 20 – 30 years to show up. Many people with HCV will remain healthy and do not experience liver disease. HOW DOES HEPATITIS C SPREAD? The Hepatitis C virus exists primarily in the liver and is carried in the blood. It is not known to be carried in semen, vaginal fluid or saliva but can be present if there is blood in any of these fluids. Hepatitis C is only spread if infected blood comes into contact with other blood. Hepatitis C can be spread in the following ways: • Doing drugs (sharing needles, spoons/water for intravenous drug use). According to the Canadian Liver Foundation, almost 90% of people who have used injection drugs even once in their lifetime, have Hepatitis C • Re
