| How is Hepatitis C spread? |
| Hepatitis C is spread when blood from a person |
| infected with the Hepatitis C virus enters the body of |
| someone who is not infected. This can happen through |
| different ways including: |
| Injection drug use. Most people become |
| infected with Hepatitis C by sharing needles or |
| other equipment to inject drugs. It is possible to |
| have gotten Hepatitis C from injecting drugs, |
| even if it was just once or many years ago. |
| Blood transfusions and organ transplants. |
| Before widespread screening of the blood supply |
| began in 1992, Hepatitis C was spread through |
Helpful additional sources on Hep C- http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/pdf/2012hcv-guidelines.pdf
| blood transfusions and organ transplants. |
| Outbreaks. While uncommon, poor infection |
| control has resulted in outbreaks in health care |
| facilities and residential care facilities. |
| While rare, spreading Hepatitis C through sex is |
| possible. Having a sexually transmitted disease (STD) |
| or HIV, sex with multiple partners, or rough sex |
| appears to increase a persons risk for Hepatitis C. |
| Hepatitis C can also be spread when getting tattoos |
| and body piercings in informal settings or with |
| non-sterile instruments. |