Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C infection is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and is transmitted via contact with blood of an infected person. Risk factors include sharing needles or syringes with an infected person, sharing personal items such as razors, toothbrushes, etc. as well as by getting tattoos or piercings at an unlicensed facility.  The virus is not spread casually (holding or shaking hands, hugging, sneezing, or talking to an infected individual). It is also recommended that all adults aged 18 years and older be tested at least once for hepatitis C.

The CDC recommends HCV testing for:

• All adults aged 18 years and older
• Current and former injection and non-injection drug users
• Individuals with HIV infection
• Children born to HCV-positive women
• Recipients of clotting factor concentrates prior to 1987
• Recipients of blood transfusions or solid organ transplants prior to July 1992
• Anyone with a known HCV exposure, such as healthcare workers after a needlestick
• Anyone who requests hepatitis C testing

There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C.

Additional Resources:

Hepatitis C Information - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Perinatal Hepatitis C

Hepatits C Infographic: To keep your community informed about hepatitis C, share this document on your social media networks.

Additional Testing Resources:

CDC Recommendations for Universal Hepatitis C Virus Screening Among Adults and Pregnant Women (April 2020)
This is a direct link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) published April 10, 2020.
 

Hepatitis C Testing Toolkit for Primary Care Providers: Resources to Support Hepatitis C Testing in Georgia (2022)
The Georgia Department of Public Health developed this toolkit for primary care providers and contains all of the resources needed to promote hepatitis C testing.
    - DPH HCV Provider Toolkit

Page updated 11/18/2024