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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Reviewed 2/26/2024</strong></p>
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<p><strong>5 must-know facts about hepatitis C</strong></p>
<ol>
    <li>It's a potentially deadly virus that is spread through blood, and it's highly infectious&mdash;10 times more so than HIV.</li>
    <li>At least half of all people living with hepatitis C don't know they have the virus.</li>
    <li>The only way to know if you're infected is to have a blood test.</li>
    <li>Everyone 18 and older should be tested at least once. In addition:
    <ul>
        <li>All pregnant women should be tested during each pregnancy. </li>
        <li>Children born to an infected mother also should be tested. </li>
        <li>Regular testing is recommended for people receiving maintenance hemodialysis and for people who inject and share needles or other drug preparation equipment.</li>
    </ul>
    </li>
    <li>There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C, but new treatments may cure the virus.</li>
</ol>
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<p><strong>Sources</strong></p>
<ul>
    <li>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Hepatitis C. A Silent Epidemic."&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/factsheets/hepatitis-c-a-silent-epidemic-infographic.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/factsheets/hepatitis-c-a-silent-epidemic-infographic.pdf</a>.</li>
    <li>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Hepatitis C Questions and Answers for the Public."&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/cfaq.htm" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/cfaq.htm</a>.</li>
</ul>

Get the facts about hepatitis C

If you're a baby boomer, you should be tested for this virus.