Hepatitis C (HCV) Statistics

Did you know a person can have hepatitis C for 10-20 years without having signs of serious complications, but the hepatitis C virus can still cause serious liver damage. Hepatitis C is the number one cause of liver transplants in the U.S. Hepatitis C is four times more common than HIV in the United States. An estimated 2% (about 4.6 million people) have hepatitis C in the United States. Approximately 8,000-12,000 deaths are attributed to hepatitis C each year.
In one study hepatitis C was found in 85-100% of I.V. drug users. In some studies 40% of cases of chronic hepatits C have no identifiable risk. It is estimated that only 25-30% of new hepatitis C infections are tested and identified. 85% of those infected with hepatitis C will be chronic carriers. 15% will overcome the infection. 4% of hepatitis C infections are from men who have sex with men