Video - Hepatitis C virus

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family. It infects the liver cells and causes chronic hepatitis. HCV is highly infectious and can be transmitted through contact with blood or body fluids from an infected person. HCV is most commonly spread through sharing contaminated needles or other injection equipment among people who inject drugs and from mother to child during birth. Hepatitis C infection can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure after many years, and it also poses a risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma.