What You Should Know About. . . Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus. The hepatitis C virus is found in the blood and body fluids of an infected person.
Blood is the most significant transmission source.
Since the implementation of screening tests for hepatitis C, transmission due to blood transfusions and organ donations has declined dramatically. Hepatitis C can also be spread through sexual contact, however, sexual transmission is responsible for a relatively small number of hepatitis C infections. The majority of current transmission is due to injection drug use. Hepatitis C is not spread by casual contact or by contaminated food or water. Hepatitis C can become a serious illness for some individuals, but not for others.