Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes liver disease
and it is found in the blood of persons who are infected. HCV
is spread by contact with the blood of an infected person.
Hepatitis C infects about 25,000 people each year with most
developing chronic infection. However, many of those with chronic
hepatitis C do not even know they are infected. Those individuals
with chronic infection are at risk for developing chronic liver
diseases such as cirrhosis and cancer of the liver. Individuals
who injected drugs are at highest risk for infection even if
they injected only once many years ago.
Unlike hepatitis A and hepatitis B there is not a vaccine to
prevent hepatitis C. Over the years, the treatments for hepatitis
C have become more effective. However, treatment is not for
everyone and a specialist should be consulted when determining
if someone should get treated.
Information for Providers
(from the NYSDOH
Web site)
Information for Consumers
(from the
NYSDOH Web site)
