How is hepatitis C virus (HCV) spread?
HCV is a bloodborne disease. It is spread through contact with infected blood, such as shared needles used for injection drug use. HCV can also be transmitted to the baby of an infected mother during delivery. However, this occurs in only 5 out of 100 deliveries involving HCV-positive women. HCV is not spread by breastfeeding. The risk of sexual transmission of HCV is believed to be low. HCV is not spread by sneezing, hugging, coughing, food or water, sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses, or casual contact. Who is at risk for becoming infected with HCV? The risk of HCV infection is higher in anyone who has ever injected drugs, people who have had a blood transfusion before 1992, healthcare workers with a blood exposure (e.g., by an accidental needle stick), children born to HCV-infected mothers, long-term dialysis patients, and people who have had multiple sex partners. What are the symptoms of HCV infection? Symptoms of HCV infection might include: fever, fatigue, yellow-colore
