No Hepatitis C is NOT transmitted by eating or sharing food nor by other social contacts such as hugging, holding hands, sharing utensils, sneezing, or breastfeeding. Hep C virus is transmitted when an infected person’s blood enters the bloodstream of someone who is not infected.
The common modes of transmission of Hep C virus is during activities such as:
- sharing needles, syringes or other equipment to prepare or inject drugs.
- when child is born to a mother living with Hep C
Other not so common modes of transmission include:
- unprotected sexual contact with a person living with Hep C virus
- tattooing and body piercing has the potential to transmit Hep C virus if the needles used are not sterile
- sharing toothbrushes, razors, or other things that could have blood on them
Among the people who are infected with Hep C virus about 20% of people can clear the infection without medications. While there is no vaccine for Hep C, there are treatments available that can clear (or cure) the virus. For more detailed Hepatitis C info see: Hepatitis C factsheet from CATIE
Feel free to take any questions you have to your doctor and request screening for hepatitis.
