Let’s Eliminate Hepatitis C

What is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a blood borne virus. It is transmitted when infected blood enters
another person’s blood stream. If left untreated it can cause liver disease, liver
cancer and death.

Risk factors:

There are a number of risk factors for hepatitis C…

• Sharing drug injecting equipment or other drug using equipment
  (including syringes, needles, spoons, water or filters for drawing up, crack
  pipes, or snorting straws/notes).
• Blood transfusion before 1996.
• Dental or medical treatment abroad in unsterile conditions.
• Piercing, tattoo, electrolysis, semi-permanent make up or acupuncture
  using equipment which may have not been sterilised.
• Vertical transmission (from mother to baby during childbirth).
• Unprotected sex with someone who may have had hepatitis C (especially
  if there were opportunities for blood to blood contact during sex).
• Needle stick injury.

Symptoms:

Not everyone experiences symptoms
of an early hepatitis C infection.
Symptoms can be misinterpreted as
another illness.