Up to 10,000 fatalities annually. Sharing illegal IV drug needles. Multiple sex partners. Tatoos and body piercing with nonsterile instruments. Sexual transmission in monagamous relationships is uncommon.
Symptoms range from none to organ failure and death.
If HCV is diagnosed, then it may be useful to perform a needle biopsy to determine the degree of damage. If treatment is recommended, then a combination of Interferon and Ribavirin are the current drugs of choice. Abstention from alcohol. Eat right, rest well, exercise and drink lots of water can reduce symptoms. Most people live symptom free for many years.