The transmission of hepatitis C must involve blood from the infected individual entering into the blood stream of another individual.
The risk of "Household Transmission" involves sharing personal hygiene items such as:
Razors
Tooth brushes
Files
Nail clippers
Tweezers
Anything else that may have blood on it.
Each household member should keep his or her personal hygiene items separate from others in the house.
Blood spills that are not properly cleaned up may also pose a threat to other household members.
The hepatitis C virus can live on surfaces outside of the body at room temperature for at least 16 hours and for as long as four days.
Hepatitis C is not spread through casual contact such as sneezing, coughing, shaking hands, hugging or drinking from a water fountain.
Sexual contact is not a very effective way of transmitting HCV. Hepatitis C transmission must involve the exchange of blood in order to occur. Sexual transmission of HCV can occur, but it is rare among monogamous, heterosexual couples.
