Hepatitis C HCV Transmission

HCV Hepatitis C virus is spread primarily by direct contact with human blood. For example, you may have gotten infected with HCVHepatitis C virus if:

you ever injected street drugs, as the needles and/or other drug "works" used to prepare or inject the drug(s) may have had someone else's blood that contained Hepatitis C HCV on them.
you received blood, blood products, or solid organs from a donor whose blood contained Hepatitis C HCV.
you were ever on long-term kidney dialysis as you may have unknowingly shared supplies/equipment that had someone else's blood on them.
you were ever a healthcare worker and had frequent contact with blood on the job, especially accidental needlesticks.
your mother had hepatitis C at the time she gave birth to you. During the birth her blood may have gotten into your body.
you ever had sex with a person infected with Hepatitis C HCV.
you lived with someone who was infected with Hepatitis C HCV and shared items such as razors or toothbrushes that might have had his/her blood on them.

Source Center for Diseaease Control CDC http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c/faq.htm#1b

HCV Hepatitis Cis not transmitted by casual contact such as sneezing, coughing, hugging, or sharing eating utensils and drinking glasses.

New Zealand blood supply

Before 1992, many people contracted Hepatitis C HCV through blood or blood product transfusions. On 27 July 1992, a reliable blood test to identify Hepatitis C HCV antibodies became available. Since then, the New Zealand blood supply has been screened.

A small percentage of people may contract Hepatitis C HCV through unprotected sexual activity.

Healthcare workers are at risk for Hepatitis C HCV infection because of needlestick accidents and unavoidable situations that may result in direct contact with blood from an infected individual.

You Tube link to Public Service Announcement in which stick figure character Dennis learns how to catch Hepatitis C (video 1.2 mins long )

Perinatal transmission from mothers with Hepatitis C HCV to their infants before or during birth occurs less than 5% of the time. Whether or not transmission occurs may depend on the presence of high levels of HCV in the mother’s blood; mothers co-infected with HBV or HIV are more likely to transmit Hepatitis C HCV to their babies.