How Is Hepatitis C Transmitted?
Infectious DiseasesHepatitis C

How Hepatitis C Is Transmitted

How Hepatitis C Is Transmitted
Everyday Health
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Updated on February 9, 2026
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Hepatitis C is a type of hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). When a person contracts hepatitis C, it can take 2 to 12 weeks from exposure until the onset of any symptoms.

Between 20 and 30 percent of people infected with HCV show symptoms of acute hepatitis C. But in many cases of acute hepatitis C, people don’t develop any symptoms. Untreated HCV can lead to complications, like liver cirrhosis or liver cancer.

It’s important to get tested for HCV and understand how the infection spreads to help protect yourself and others.

Different Types of Hepatitis

There are three common types of viral hepatitis: hepatitis A, B, and C. Each is transmitted in different ways. For instance, the hepatitis A virus is transmitted through contaminated food and drink, while the hepatitis B virus is spread through contact with various bodily fluids, including blood, semen, and vaginal secretions.

Hepatitis C is less transmissible than A and B because you mainly get it through blood contact. It can spread through sexual contact, but this is uncommon.

While some acute infections of hepatitis C spontaneously clear on their own, prior infection doesn’t protect against a future infection with the same or a different strain of the virus.

There are seven primary strains, or genotypes, of the hepatitis C virus, and each responds to different medications, though some newer medications can effectively treat all genotypes.

How the Hepatitis C Virus Spreads

In the past, hepatitis C was often spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants. This changed in 1992 when widespread, more-advanced blood screening techniques became available.

Today the most common way hepatitis C spreads is through the sharing of needles and other equipment for drug use.

It’s less common, but you can also be exposed to HCV through:

  • Unprotected sex
  • Needlestick injuries in hospitals and clinics
  • The use of unsterile medical equipment, especially needles and syringes, in a healthcare setting
  • The use of unsterile instruments for tattoos and piercings
  • Sharing personal care items (such as razors and toothbrushes) that have come into contact with HCV-infected blood
  • Mother-to-child
It’s possible the virus can survive for several weeks outside the body at room temperature on environmental surfaces.

 To clean up blood spills, use a solution of water and bleach (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) and wear gloves (dried blood, too, can be infectious).

Risk Factors for Hepatitis C

Though the risk is generally considered low, it is possible to contract hepatitis C by having unprotected sex. This risk increases if you have multiple sex partners, have a sexually transmitted disease, or engage in sex that involves bleeding.

Aside from sexual activity, there are several other factors that increase your risk of getting hepatitis C, including if you:

  • Use intravenous drugs now or have used them in the past
  • Received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992, when better hepatitis C testing became available
  • Were born to an HCV-positive mother
  • Have tattoos or piercings, particularly those done with unsterile equipment or at unregulated facilities
  • Are a healthcare worker who has ever been injured by a needlestick at work

HIV and Hepatitis C

HIV is considered a strong risk factor for hepatitis C, as HIV and HCV coinfections are common. About 21 percent of people with HIV also have hepatitis C.

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Activities That Do Not Spread Hepatitis C

Because HCV is spread through blood, you cannot get the virus from:

  • Food or water
  • Casual contact with an HCV-infected person, such as hugging, holding hands, or kissing (saliva does not transmit HCV)
  • Being coughed or sneezed on
  • Sharing food, drinks, or eating utensils

The Takeaway

  • Hepatitis C is primarily spread through blood contact, commonly via sharing needles for drug use.
  • It can also be transmitted by using unsterile medical or cosmetic equipment or through sexual contact.
  • Those who received blood transfusions or organ transplants before 1992, or those with a history of intravenous drug use, are at higher risk for hepatitis C infection.
  • It’s crucial to get tested for hepatitis C, especially if you have risk factors, because untreated infections can lead to severe liver damage including cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Additional reporting by Deborah Shapiro.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Hepatitis C Basics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. September 2, 2025.
  2. Hepatitis A Basics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. August 29, 2025.
  3. Hepatitis C Prevention and Control. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. January 31, 2025.
  4. Clinical Overview of Hepatitis C. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. August 29, 2025.
  5. Causes, Hepatitis C. National Health Service. October 27, 2021.
  6. Hepatitis C Causes. U.K. National Health Service. October 27, 2021.
  7. HIV and Opportunistic Infections, Coinfections, and Conditions. HIVinfo.NIH.gov. March 31, 2025.
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Jane Yoon Scott, MD, is an infectious disease physician and an assistant professor of medicine at Emory University in Atlanta. Dr. Scott enjoys connecting with her patients, empowering them to understand and take ownership of their health, and encouraging them to ask questions so that they can make informed and thoughtful decisions.

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