Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
o HCV is a viral liver infection that, when chronic, can cause cell damage leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Most people who get infected progress to chronic infection and only about 15% to 25% of people with HCV clear the infection on their own.
o HCV is transmitted via blood (through sharing needles, razors, or toothbrushes contaminated by the HCV) or
mother to baby.
o HCV can be asymptomatic or can cause abdominal pain, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, light-colored feces,
jaundice (yellowing of eyes or skin), fatigue and fever.
o HCV is rarely sexually transmitted and risk may increase if there is physical trauma (i.e. tears, damage to the skin) and/or blood present during sex.
o Emerging evidence suggests that there may be an increased risk of sexual HCV transmission among people living with HIV and among the sex partners of people with HIV/HCV co-infection.
o HCV antibodies can be detected with a blood test. A separate test is needed to detect the virus itself.
o There is no vaccine for HCV. Effective treatments are available for HCV but they do not work for everyone.
o HCV is usually asymptomatic (80% of the time)
o Condoms are thought to be a good barrier to HCV via sexual transmission, but data is limited.