How would I know if I have hepatitis C?

You can have hepatitis C and not know it.

In fact, you can live with hepatitis C for 20 to 30 years without feeling sick or knowing you have the virus – but the virus continues to damage your liver during this time.

A blood test is the only way to check to see if you have been infected.

Testing in the NWT is free and confidential. You can contact your local public health office in larger communities or your community health centre to get tested.

Can hepatitis C be spread by people who don’t know they are infected?

Yes.

How would I get infected or infect someone else with hepatitis C?

• Sharing equipment for preparing and injecting drugs or smoking or snorting drugs.
• Sharing tattoo or body piercing equipment.
• Sharing unsterilized medical equipment between patients.
• Participating in blood or cutting rituals.
• Sharing personal hygiene and grooming supplies that might have infected blood on them.
• Having unprotected sex with multiple partners.
• Being born to an HCV infected mother.
• Receiving a needle stick injury.
• Receiving a blood transfusion in Canada prior to 1992, before blood was effectively and routinely screened for hepatitis C.

The hepatitis C virus can survive outside the body at room temperature for up to 3 weeks.

• There is no evidence that people can get HCV from food handlers, teachers, or other service providers without blood to blood contact. 
• The virus is not spread in food or water or through shared eating utensils, breast milk, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, sneezing or by mosquitoes.

How do I protect myself or others from getting infected?

The best way to prevent hepatitis C is by avoiding activities that can spread the disease.

• Do not share drug use equipment, tattoo or body piercing equipment.
• Do not share personal hygiene and grooming supplies that might have infected blood on them.
• Practice safer sex, have fewer sex partners and get tested regularly for sexually transmitted infections.
• Clean blood spills, including dried blood, using a dilution of one part household bleach to 10 parts water.  Gloves should be worn when cleaning up blood spills.
• Get a blood test for hepatitis C if you received a blood transfusion prior to 1992.

If I am sexually active should I be tested regularly for other sexually transmitted infections?

Yes.  The behaviors that put you at risk for one infection (not using condoms, multiple partners, anonymous partnering) put you at risk for other infections such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV.