How Hepatitis C Is Transmitted Everyday Health Menu NewslettersSearch Hepatitis C How Hepatitis C Is Transmitted By Joseph Bennington-CastroMedically Reviewed by Jane Yoon Scott, MD Reviewed: August 4, 2022 Medically Reviewed You can be exposed to the hepatitis C virus by sharing personal care items such as razors and toothbrushes.Thinkstock Hepatitis C is a type of hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, caused by the Different Types of Hepatitis The different types of viral hepatitis, which also includes While some acute infections of hepatitis C spontaneously clear on their own, prior infection does not protect against a future infection with the same or a different strain of the virus. There are six primary strains, or genotypes, of the hepatitis C virus, and each responds to different medications. ( Though the risk is believed to be low, you can contract hepatitis C by having unprotected sex with an HCV-infected person. FacebookTwitter How the Hepatitis C Virus Spreads In the past, hepatitis C was often spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants. This changed in 1992 when widespread, more-advanced blood screening techniques became available.The risk of contracting HCV in this manner is now less than one chance per two million units transfused, according to the CDC. (4) But former transfusion practices are likely one reason why hepatitis C disproportionately affects baby boomers, who received blood transfusions before better screening was implemented. People born between 1945 and 1965 make up about three-quarters of the 3.5 million Americans with hepatitis C. ( The CDC also notes that infections are rising among women of childbearing age. While the virus is not always transmitted from a pregnant woman to her baby, it is possible: About 6 infants in 100 born to mothers with the virus are infected. (4) In the past, hepatitis C was often spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants. That changed with more advanced blood-screening techniques. FacebookTwitter You can also be exposed to HCV through:Needlestick injuries in hospitals and clinicsThe use of unsterile medical equipment, especially needles and syringes, in a healthcare settingThe use of unsterile instruments for tattoos and piercingsSharing personal care items (such as razors and toothbrushes) that have come into contact with HCV-infected bloodUnprotected sex The CDC notes that the virus can survive for up to three weeks outside the body at room temperature on environmental surfaces. To clean up blood spills, use a solution of water and bleach (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) and wear gloves (dried blood, too, can be infectious). (4) Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Though the risk is believed to be low, you can contract hepatitis C by having unprotected sex with an HCV-infected person. This risk increases if you have multiple sex partners, have a HIV is considered a strong risk factor for hepatitis C, as HIV and HCV coinfections are common. FacebookTwitter HIV and Hepatitis C HIV is considered a strong risk factor for hepatitis C, as HIV and HCV coinfections are common.About 25 percent of Activities That Do Not Spread Hepatitis C Because HCV is spread through blood, you cannot get the virus from:Breast milkFood or waterCasual contact with an HCV-infected person, such as hugging, holding hands, or kissing (saliva does not transmit HCV)Being coughed or sneezed onSharing food, drinks, or eating utensilsVia mosquitoes or other insects (4) Additional reporting by Deborah Shapiro. Resources We Love U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases American Liver Foundation Hepatitis C Online HCV Advocate Hepatitis C Advocacy World Hepatitis Alliance National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) Caring Ambassadors Hepatitis C Program Hepatitis C Association NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Digestive Health Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking Hepatitis C Questions and Answers for Health Professionals. Show Less The Latest in Hepatitis C These Requirements Make It Harder for People With Hepatitis C to Be Treated Restrictions in Medicaid coverage can prevent people with hepatitis C from receiving treatment.By Maia Niguel Hoskin, PhDMarch 11, 2022 Can Curing Hepatitis C Improve Your Brain Health? The virus can cause problems such as brain fog, fatigue, and memory trouble. The good news: These cognitive problems can be reversed.By Jessica MigalaMarch 11, 2022 Hepatitis C Infections Are Rising Among Pregnant People A growing number of pregnant people are being diagnosed with hepatitis C amid a worsening opioid crisis — and a new study suggests that white and American...By Lisa RapaportDecember 9, 2021 Should You Take an At-Home Test for Hepatitis C? At-home testing for hepatitis C is becoming more widespread. Discover whether you should take a self-test and what you need to know about this new way...By Elizabeth YunDecember 8, 2021 7 Ways Hepatitis C Affects Your Skin A hepatitis C infection can not only damage your liver but also affect your skin. Learn how to manage the symptoms.By Elizabeth YunSeptember 8, 2021 8 Things People With Hepatitis C Need to Know About the COVID-19 Vaccines Find out whether the COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for people with hepatitis C, including those who have been diagnosed with cirrhosis.By Moira LawlerMay 6, 2021 7 Things to Do While You’re Waiting to Start Hep C Treatment Take these steps to shore up your diet, medication routine, and more.By Andrea PeirceMarch 9, 2021 5 Ways to Avoid Hepatitis C Reinfection Direct-acting antiviral medication can cure hepatitis C, but it can’t prevent you from catching the virus again. Here’s how to avoid contracting hep C...By Colleen de BellefondsDecember 3, 2020 How One Black Man Was Cured of Hep C, Despite Racial Bias How one Black man fought — and won — his battle with hepatitis C.By Maia Niguel Hoskin, PhDDecember 3, 2020 Hepatitis C Virus Treatable Thanks to Discovery of Nobel Winners The 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was jointly awarded to three scientists who discovered the hepatitis C virus, a feat that paved the way...By Lisa RapaportOctober 13, 2020 MORE IN Diagnosing Hepatitis C What Is Hepatitis D? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention What Is Hepatitis A? 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