Hepatitis C Information
What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HVC). HVC is usually spread when someone comes into contact with blood from an infected person. This can happen through sharing of drug works, through birth from mother to baby, healthcare exposures, sex with an infected person, unregulated tattoos or body piercings, or through blood transfusions and organ transplants before 1992.
About half of people infected with hepatitis C don’t even know it. They may have no symptoms.
Most people who get infected will develop chronic, lifelong, infection. Left untreated, hepatitis C can cause liver disease, liver failure, liver cancer, and even death.
Hepatitis C treatment
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. However, there are all-oral treatments available that can cure hepatitis C in as little as 8 to 12 weeks. This oral treatment has a 95% success rate and few side effects.
Chippewa County Health Department (CCHD) treats Hep C! Through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) We Treat Hep C Initiative, treatment is more accessible among people enrolled in the Michigan Medicaid and the Healthy Michigan Plan. As part of this initiative, these enrollees can be treated regardless of their recent or current substance use or liver damage. CCHD also sees patient with private insurances.
Call CCHD at 906-635-1566 today to schedule your free hepatitis C test!
