What is Hep C?

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Hep C is a serious disease, but what else do you need to know? Click the following links to take you to each page in this section:

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Quick Facts on HEP C
  • Hep C is caused by a virus carried in blood. It attacks your liver.
  • The virus is passed by blood-to-blood contact.
  • You might not have symptoms for many years. By that time the liver damage could be serious. During that whole time you could pass the virus on to other people.
  • You can get Hep C from:
  • sharing needles, pipes, straws, cookers, filters, ties, or water for drug use with anyone else, including your sexual partner.
  • piercing or tattooing equipment (including ink) already used on someone else. 
  • Sometimes you can get Hep C from:
  • anything that might have blood on it, like razors, nail clippers and toothbrushes already used by someone else, even if you can’t see the blood.
  • unprotected sex with someone who has Hep C.
  • There is treatment for Hep C but first you have to get tested to know if you have the virus.



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