Hepatitis C, or HCV, is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. The virus can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis, ranging in severity from a mild illness to a serious, lifelong illness including liver cirrhosis and cancer. The hepatitis C virus is a bloodborne virus and most infection occur through exposure to blood from unsafe injection practices, unsafe health care, unscreened blood transfusions, injection drug use and sexual practices that lead to exposure to blood. (World Health Organization, WHO)
HCV infection is one of the leading causes of liver disease globally. WHO estimates 58 million HCV infections worldwide, with approximately 1.5 million new HCV infections annually and 290,000 deaths annually resulting from HCV infection.
