Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
If symptoms do occur, the average incubation period is 45 days after exposure, but this can range from 14 to 180 days.
Hepatitis C virus-infected individuals are infectious to other people, whether they show symptoms or not. Interestingly, hepatitis C virus is strictly a human disease. It is not known to cause disease in any animals.
Blood testing for hepatitis C virus was not available until 1992. As a result, blood donation agencies did not screen for Hepatitis C virus. Many hepatitis C virus infections occurred as a result of receiving blood products from infected individuals. Today, testing for hepatitis C is common place and should occur after any exposure to potential bloodborne pathogens has occurred.
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.
Treatment
According to the CDC, approximately 15% to 45% of people infected with acute hepatitis C will naturally be able to clear the infection from their body without treatment.
There are several medications available to treat chronic hepatitis C, including newer, more effective drugs with fewer side effects. Over 90% of people infected with HCV can be cured of their infection, regardless of HCV genotype, with 8–12 weeks of oral therapy.
Around the World
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.5 million people are infected with the hepatitis C virus each year. Approximately 58 million people are chronically infected and at risk of developing liver cirrhosis and/or liver cancer. In 2019, approximately 290,000 people worldwide died from hepatitis C-related liver diseases.
Decontamination
Blood spills - including dried blood, which can still be infectious - should be cleaned using a 10% dilution of one-part of household bleach to 9 parts of water. Gloves should be worn when cleaning up blood spills. The CDC also has guidelines for preparing cleaning solutions using bleach.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-6. Blood spills, including dried blood, containing HCV should be cleaned using a 10% dilution of household bleach, by mixing _____.
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