EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HEPATITIS-C VIRUS (HCV)

The geographical repartition of HCV is heterogenous. In Occidental cou ntries, the HCV seroprevalence among blood donors is less than 0.5%. I n South-Eastern Asia, the seroprevalence is less than 2%. In Africa, i n Egypt and in some Central African countries, HCV seroprevalence rate s more than 5% have been reported. The main route of transmission is p arenteral. After needle stick accident the risk of contamination is be tween 0 and 2%. The other mode of transmissin mother to child, sexual and intrafamilial seem to have a low efficiency. The importance of the transmission seems to be directly related to the viremia of the index subject.