Transmission of hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a blood borne virus and is passed on through blood-to-blood contact. This happens when the blood of a person with hepatitis C enters the body of another person. Even when the amount of blood is too small to be seen it can pass on the hepatitis C virus.
You can get hepatitis C from:
- unsterile (unclean) injections, blood transfusions and other medical or dental procedures done in some overseas countries. In Australia, these are safe.
- unsterile traditional practices that involve blood, such as tattooing and skin piercing.
- using someone else’s personal items that may have blood on them, such as razors and toothbrushes.
- mother-to-child during pregnancy or childbirth if the mother has hepatitis C.
- having sex without a condom with someone who has hepatitis C.
- using someone else’s equipment for injecting drugs.
- blood transfusions in Australia before 1990.
You cannot get hepatitis C from:
- sharing toilets.
- eating utensils or drinking glasses.
- coughing, sneezing, kissing or hugging.
- swimming pools.
- mosquito or other insect bites.
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