Prevention

How hepatitis C is spread

Hep C is spread when the hep C-infected blood of one person gets into the bloodstream of another person (called ‘exposure’).  Nowadays, most new infections are caused by sharing injection drug-use equipment, including:

• Needles

• Syringes

• Swabs

• Filters

• Spoons

• Tourniquets

• Water

… in other words, any and all injection drug-use equipment can have the hep C virus in or on it and can cause exposure.  Hep C can be also be passed along by sharing snorting and smoking equipment, including:

• Pipes

• Bumpers

• Straws

But there are other ways that people can be exposed to the hep C virus (risks):

• Sharing tattooing and piercing equipment and ink used by someone else

• Using toothbrushes, razors and other personal care items that may have blood on them (often that you can’t always see)

• Accidental needle sticks (health care providers and others may be at risk for this)

• Because there is a lot of blood a baby can become infected with hepatitis C during childbirth Doctors can talk about the options for lessening this risk.

• Sexual transmission (rare in long-term monogamous relationships; higher with high risk sexual activities i.e. when blood or sexually transmitted infections are present)

• Blood transfusion before 1992 (current risk less than one in 2 million)

If you have been exposed even one time, consider being tested for hep C and HIV. See Testing for more information.

Hep C is NOT spread through everyday activities like:

• Coughing or sneezing

• Hugging, kissing or shaking hands

• Using the same dishes or cutlery

Preventing Hepatitis C Infection

Hep C is a strong virus that lives in blood.  It can be passed from one person to another by any activity that puts one person’s blood into contact with another person’s blood in the body.

Hep C also lives in blood outside the body for awhile, even in tiny amounts of blood that you can’t see.

So whether you know or not if you or others have hep C, following some basic rules will help to keep you and others safe from hep C:

• Wear gloves and use bleach when you clean up blood spills.

• Keep your cuts and sores bandaged while they heal.

• Have your own razors, toothbrushes and nail clippers etc. and don’t use other people’s.

• Use only your own needles and other drug-use equipment and don’t share yours with others (see Resources/Harm Reduction for where to get sterile drug-use supplies in BC)

• Get tattoos and piercings in shops with good reputations who take the right steps to prevent exposure (single use tattoo needles, proper sterilization equipment and practices)

• Use condoms when blood may be present during sex

The Rule of Thumb to remember:  keep your blood from coming into contact with anyone elses and anyone elses blood from coming into contact with yours.