HCV

WHAT IS HEPATITIS C?

Hepatitis C is a virus that, over time, harms the liver.

Hepatitis C is spread by blood-to-blood contact—when blood containing hepatitis C gets into someone’s bloodstream (called ‘exposure’).  Sometimes hepatitis C is called “hep C” or “HCV” (for hepatitis C virus).

Clearing the virus

Not everyone who gets the hep C virus keeps it for the rest of their lives. Around 20% of people who are infected with hep C will get rid of the virus from their bodies without treatment. This is called ‘clearing the virus’.  Clearing the virus happens during the ‘acute phase’, within six months from the time of exposure.

You can still pass the virus along to someone else from the time of exposure until you clear the virus.  And, you have to get a special test, called a ‘PCR’, to know if you have cleared the virus.  See the Testing section on this website for more information about the PCR test.

Clearing the virus does not mean you are protected from getting hep C again.  Even someone living with hepatitis C can become infected again with a different strain.  See the Prevention and Harm Reduction sections of this website for more information about preventing hep C infection.

There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C (there is for hepatitis A and B).

Chronic hepatitis C

80% of people who become infected with hep C will have the virus in their blood, for life, unless they are successful with treatment.

This means that even if they don’t have symptoms they can still pass the virus along to others.

It also means they could become sick.  Some people progress to having cirrhosis (heavy scarring of the liver) and some of those will develop liver cancer or end stage liver disease (ESLD). But it can sometimes take 20 – 30 years for the virus to cause serious damage or liver disease.

Some people have no or few symptoms of hep C even, though they have the virus, and no liver damage or liver disease.  These people should still get regular check ups with their doctor to make sure there is no liver disease, even if they feel healthy.

Understanding hep C and learning how to stay healthy with chronic hep C can help to lessen symptoms and sickness due to hep C.

See the Treatment and Care   for more information about symptoms of hep C. 

See the Resource for links to more information about hep C symptoms and living well with hep C.