Hepatitis C

• Hepatitis C is a virus (HCV) that can cause inflammation of the liver.
• It is mainly spread from the blood from an infected person, for example, while sharing needles, or other equipment that has been exposed to blood, to inject drugs, or through needle-stick injuries.
• For most people (70%-85%), hepatitis C is a long-term chronic condition that can result in long-term serious health problems and even death.
• Most infected people may not be aware of their infection if they are not ill with symptoms.
• There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.
• The best way to prevent hepatitis C is to avoid behaviors that can spread the disease, such as injecting drugs, and decrease the risk of occupational exposure (for healthcare workers) by adhering to Standard Precautions.

Hepatitis C is reportable in Orange County within seven (7) calendar days of identification. To report a case, health care providers/facilities should call OCHCA Communicable Disease Control at 714-834-8180, fax reports to 714-560-4050, or mail to P.O. Box 6128, Santa Ana, CA 92706-0128. 

Healthcare Professionals

• CDC - Clinical Overview of Hepatitis C
• HCV Guidance:  Recommendations for Testing, Managing, and Treating Hepatitis C (American Association for Study of Liver Diseases and Infectious Diseases Society of America)
• Information for Healthcare Personnel Potentially Exposed to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV):  Recommended Testing and Follow-up
• Management of Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis (2001 MMWR)

Resources

• CDC - Hepatitis C Fact Sheet (English)
• CDC - Hepatitis C Fact Sheet (Spanish)

For more information, see the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/index.htm.

Last Updated: 6/23/2026