Donated blood has been screened for antibodies to Hepatitis C since 1990. The risk of transmission by household contact and sexual contact has not been well defined, but the efficiency of these risk factors appears to be low. Transmission from mother to child also appears to be uncommon. Most people infected with Hepatitis C do not show any symptoms. Symptoms may appear from two weeks to six months after exposure, but usually within six to nine weeks.
People are at risk of transmitting from one or more weeks before onset of symptoms.
However, since the majority of people infected with Hepatitis C do not have symptoms, the period of communicability is indeterminate. People remain contagious as long as they carry the virus. Currently, there is no post-exposure treatment that will prevent infection, nor is there treatment for acute Hepatitis C infection. Interferon and ribavirin combination therapy is also an approved treatment. The combination therapy improves the sustained response.