The Little Book
of
Hep C Facts
What
1
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by a virus in the blood. Over time hepatitis C may lead to liver scarring and serious illness.
What
2
Hepatitis C is a leading cause for liver transplants in Australia*, but that has reduced after new hepatitis C cures became available.
*https://www.hepcguidelines.org.au/special-populations/ treatment-of-hcv-after-liver-transplantation/
Cure
3 Hepatitis C can be cured. Daily tablets taken for 8 or 12 weeks will cure 19 out of 20 people.
Photograph by Dani McCreery
Cure
4
For most people, treatment is •tablets only •8 or 12 weeks •highly effective, and •has little or no side effects.
Cure
5
You can get hepatitis C treatment through your GP, specialist or nurse practitioner. To find out more call 1800 437 222.
Cure
6
Between 2016 and 2025, 112,863 people with hepatitis C in Australia were treated*.
*Viral Hepatitis Mapping Project: Hepatitis C - National Report 2024-2025, p19
Cure
7 There are many strains (genotypes) of hepatitis C. New hepatitis C treatments work with all genotypes.
How many
8
An estimated 62,880 people in Australia still live with hepatitis C. 1 in 5 don’t know they have it. Viral Hepatitis Mapping Project Hepatitis C: National Report 20242025, p18
How many
9
Some people – about 1 in 4 – can get rid of the hepatitis C virus naturally without treatment.
Re-infection
10
Clearing the hepatitis C virus does not protect you against getting infected again (re-infection).
Re-infection
11
Even if you have been treated and cured of hepatitis C, you can become infected again.
Symptoms
12
The most common signs of chronic hepatitis C infection are tiredness, lack of energy, nausea and discomfort around the liver area.
Symptoms
13
Many people living with chronic hepatitis C have no symptoms. Some may have flu-like symptoms when first infected but often symptoms don’t show until after 15 years or more.
Testing
14
Hepatitis C blood tests are free for anyone with a Medicare card: •An antibody test shows if you ever had hepatitis C. It does not show if still have it. •A PCR test shows if you currently have the hepatitis C virus.
Testing
15
New hepatitis C tests are done with a drop of blood from a finger, giving results in 1 hour. Another test uses dried blood spots, giving results in 2 weeks.
16
Transmision
You get hepatitis C when blood carrying the virus enters your bloodstream.
Transmision
17
In Australia, the most common way of getting hepatitis C is by sharing any injecting equipment including spoons, water, filters and tourniquets.
Transmission
18
You can also get hepatitis C from: •sharing drug equipment which may be exposed to blood with the hepatitis C virus, e.g. snorting straws;
Transmission
19
•tattooing and body piercing with unsterilised equipment;
20
Transmission
•blood and blood products (e.g. plasma, platelets, red cells, antibodies) which were not screened for hepatitis C*; * In Australia testing of blood products for hepatitis C began in 1990.
Transmission
21
•medical, dental and cosmetic procedures using unsterilised equipment, particularly in places where infection control is lax;
22
Transmission
•cultural or religious rituals and sports where there is blood to blood contact. In sports, it is important to stick to the blood rule.* *An athlete who has an open wound, is bleeding, or who has blood on body or clothes, must immediately leave the playing area to receive medical attention. Though they may be able to play again later, they cannot go back and play again until the wound is taken care of, bleeding has stopped, and all contaminated equipment replaced.
Transmission
23
The risk of getting hepatitis C through personal items like toothbrushes and razors is low but it is best not to share these items anyway.
24
Transmission
Hepatitis C is NOT a sexually transmitted infection but when blood is present during sex, there is an increased risk of transmission.
Hepatitis C transmission has been linked to unprotected anal sex.
Transmission
25
It’s perfectly safe to share food, drinks and cutlery with someone who has hepatitis C.
Transmission
26
You can’t catch hepatitis C from toilet seats, mosquitoes or swimming pools.
Transmission
27
Hugging and kissing is ok.
28
Transmission
The risk of mothers passing hepatitis C to their unborn child is very low. Women with hepatitis C may safely breastfeed.
Photograph by Ian Hitchcock
Prevention
29
Hepatitis C can be prevented by taking standard infection control precautions* when blood is present. *First Aid and Cleaning Blood Spills (https://issuu.com/hepccsa/docs/firstaid-140512)
Prevention
30
There is no vaccination against hepatitis C.
The Law
31
Under the law you don’t need to tell if you have hepatitis C unless you are: •a member of, or applying to join, the Australian Defence Force •a healthcare worker undertaking exposure-prone procedures, eg. dentist, surgeon, theatre nurse
The Law
32
•donating blood •asked when applying for life or health insurance, or •asked when participating in combat sports such as mixed martial arts.
The Law
33
It is against the law to refuse people services or treat them badly because they have hepatitis C.
Living with...
34
If you have hepatitis C, getting hepatitis A or B can worsen your liver disease. People with hepatitis C are urged to get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B.
Living with...
35 Hepatitis C reduces saliva in your mouth and this may result in unhealthy gums and teeth.
36
Living with...
Smoking: Tobacco can make your liver disease progress faster. Long-term daily cannabis use has been linked to liver scarring in people with hepatitis C.
*Influence of cannabis use on severity of hepatitis C disease, Ishida JH et al, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology Jan 2008, 69-75.
Living with...
37
Keep your liver healthy with physical activity, a healthy diet rich in anti-oxidant foods* with lots of water, and less alcohol, fats and sugar.
*Anti-oxidant rich foods include most fresh fruits and vegetables, pulses, tea and nuts. For more, see betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/ antioxidants
Living with...
38
Have a cuppa! Coffee is good for your liver.
• https://www.webmd.com/fatty-liver-disease/ coffee-help-liver • https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/informationand-support/living-with-a-liver-condition/ coffee/
Developed and produced on Kaurna Country Hepatitis SA Helpline • 1800 437 222 HepSA.asn.au/CommunityNews • hepatitissa.asn.au • April 2026 •
Hepatitis SA would like to thank: • Bonnie Brodie, Colleen Brodie, Margaret Brodie and other Taoundi artists for their artwork, • the Grannies Group, the Sophia Aunties, Stanley Geebung and Justin Greenhalgh for their invaluable contribution to the text in this booklet.