The number of chronic or acute hepatitis C cases includes only laboratory-confirmed cases. This may differ from other reports that include probable cases.

Hepatitis C (HCV) is a blood borne viral infection of the liver.  Hepatitis C is primarily transmitted through exposure to infected blood, and most commonly results from the sharing of infected drug needles and other equipment.  It can also be spread from infected mothers to their newborn infant or person to person through sexual contact.  However, these occurrences are much less likely.  Hepatitis C is not spread by coughing, kissing or sneezing.  Most people infected with hepatitis C do not show any symptoms of the illness.  Those who do develop acute hepatitis C may have symptoms that can include fever, fatigue (tiredness), nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine and yellowing of the skin (jaundice.)  Hepatitis C is diagnosed through a blood test.  Acute hepatitis C can lead to chronic infections in the majority of people that remain silent (no symptoms) for years while increasing the risk of liver disease and liver cancer.  

There is no vaccine available for hepatitis C.  Prevention of hepatitis C infection - not sharing needles or equipment used with injectable drugs - is the best option.  Treatment is available for chronic hepatitis C infections with success rates of  90-90% for chronic infections.  However, treatment is extremely expensive ($75,000 - $95,000 per person.)

Over the last 5 years the number of acute hepatitis C infections in all adults and the number of chronic hepatitis Cin people ages 18-29 has increased at an alarming rate.  A concurrent and significant increase in heroin and opiate use has been documented in the community over the same time period.