“Relax...you have cooties...but they aren’t as bad as you are imagining.” - Cindy Torchin: cindyt@cpcug.org Listowner HEPV-L --Most people with hepatitis C contracted it through either a contaminated blood transfusion or product (plasma, gammaglobulin, etc.) or by sharing contaminated needles. Prior to 1990, the official line was that blood in Canada could not be screened for HCV (see, Appendix E: History of Blood Safety). Thanks to HCV testing with modern methods, the risk of acquiring hepatitis C from blood transfusion is now less than 1%. The other people who acquire hepatitis C include health care and laboratory workers that may get stuck with an infected needle or instrument, people receiving medical/dental procedures, people undergoing hemodialysis, body piercing, sharing razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers or people who have had tattoos or manicures that were performed with poorly sterilized equipment. Infected mothers can pass the virus to the fetus in utero; statistics for transmission from mother to child are around 5%. It may occur more readily if the mother is also infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS--16% transmission rate. Cases of hepatitis C with no evidence of exposure through blood transfusions, needlesticks or needle sharing are called “sporadic.” How these individuals became infected is unknown. As early as 1956 the Merck Manual stated that Non-A/Non-B hepatitis could be spread through the use of glass syringes and other then current medical testing and mass vaccination devices. Forty percent of all cases of hepatitis C were contracted through unknown means by people who are in no current risk category. What this means is that we are all at risk for contracting hepatitis C. 1. 2.
The virus is in the blood of an infected person. Hepatitis C can be spread by using something with infected blood on it such as: a. razors, nail clippers or scissors b. tooth brushes and water pics c. tattoo or body piercing needles d. illicit IV drug needles and paraphernalia (cottons, spoons, etc.) e. tampons or sanitary napkins The virus must enter through a break in the skin or mucous membrane.
3. --1.0.9a HOW HCV IS NOT TRANSMITTED
1. The hepatitis C virus is NOT airborne. 2. It is NOT spread by: a. sneezing and coughing b. holding hands c. kissing (unless there is deep-kissing and open sores present) d. using the same toilet e. eating food prepared by someone with HCV f. holding a child in your arms g. swimming in the same pool
--I.1.0 HCV AND BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS Anyone who received a blood transfusion or a blood product before 1992 is considered to be in a high risk group. Blood banks began screening donors for certain markers as early as 1986, but contaminated blood still found its way through to patients. In May 1990, screening tests for the hepatitis C virus came into use, and the risk is now thought to be 1 in 3,300 or 0.12% for the typical recipient of a transfusion. A typical recipient is one who does not have other conditions that would make it more likely for them to catch the virus (like HIV infection). - California at Berkeley Wellness Letter, May 1993 (see Appendix E: History of Blood Safety). HCV acquired through blood transfusion tends to be more severe than through other modes of transmission. --I.1.1
HCV AND INTRAVENOUS DRUG USE
Investigators at Johns Hopkins report that injection drug users are at high risk for contracting hepatitis B and C, and that many contract hepatitis B or C within the first year of IV drug use. Dr. David Vlahov and colleagues studied 716 volunteers who had been injecting for six years or less. Seventy-seven percent of them were infected with HCV and 65.7% were infected with HBV. Roughly 20%
11