FAQ
What is Hepatitis C?
• Hepatitis C infection (Hep C) is caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). In Ontario, about 110,000 people are living with Hep C.
• Roughly 20% of people don’t even know they have it.
• Even though you may have no symptoms for many years, you can still have an active infection and pass Hepatitis C on to others.
How is Hepatitis C transmitted?
• Sharing needles, syringes, or other equipment to prepare drugs
• Needlestick injuries in health care settings
• Being born to a mother who has Hepatitis C
Less common, a person can also get Hepatitis C virus through:
• Sharing personal care items that may have come in contact with another person’s blood, such as razors or toothbrushes
• Having sexual contact with a person infected with the Hep C virus
• Getting a tattoo or body piercing in an unregulated setting