No vaccine exists for hepatitis C, so how do you protect yourself?

You might share a meal or hug someone without ever worrying about hepatitis C. That is because this liver infection does not spread through food, water, or casual contact like hugging and kissing. It spreads only when infected blood enters another person's body.

Globally, an estimated 47 million people have chronic hepatitis C virus infection, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2024, approximately 239 000 people died from the disease, mostly from liver cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. Because there is currently no effective vaccine against hepatitis C, prevention depends entirely on avoiding contact with infected blood.

How does the virus actually reach you?

The most common ways hepatitis C spreads involve medical equipment or drug use. The virus passes through the reuse or inadequate sterilization of syringes and needles in healthcare settings. It also spreads through the transfusion of unscreened blood and sharing injection equipment among people who inject drugs.

Less commonly, the virus can pass from an infected mother to her baby. It may also spread during sexual practices that lead to exposure to blood, such as among men who have sex with men or people with multiple sexual partners.

What can you do to lower your risk?

Since you cannot get a vaccine, your daily choices matter. You can protect yourself by focusing on these practical steps:

• Use barrier methods such as condoms during sex to reduce the chance of blood exposure.
• Never share needles, syringes, or any equipment used for injecting drugs.
• If you need a medical or dental procedure, ask whether the clinic uses properly sterilized or single-use equipment.
• Avoid sharing personal items that might carry tiny amounts of blood, such as razors or toothbrushes.

People at higher risk include those who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, those living with HIV, and those exposed to repeated health-care procedures.

When should you consider testing?

New infections usually cause no symptoms, so many people do not know they are infected. Symptoms can take between two weeks and six months to appear, if they appear at all. They may include fever, feeling very tired, dark urine, pale faeces, joint pain, or yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice).

Early diagnosis can prevent health problems that may result from infection and prevent transmission of the virus. Testing involves a simple blood test to look for antibodies, followed by a nucleic acid test to confirm active infection. This second step is important because about 30% of people infected clear the virus naturally within six months without treatment, yet their antibody test will still be positive.

If you think you may have been exposed to infected blood, talk to a doctor about getting tested. Direct-acting antiviral medicines (DAAs) can cure more than 95% of persons with hepatitis C infection, usually within 12 to 24 weeks.

Protecting yourself from hepatitis C comes down to one clear rule: keep other people's blood away from yours.