HEPATITIS-C INFECTION

The identification of hepatitis C virus has resulted in a dramatic imp rovement in the safety of the blood supply with a marked reduction in transfusion-associated hepatitis. It has also revealed that over 1% of the population is infected with the virus and most individuals have n o identifiable risk factor for infection. This has resulted in an inte resting paradox; hepatitis C virus is a seemingly mild, usually asympt omatic liver disease, difficult to transfer sexually or vertically, ye t 3 million people in the USA are infected and hepatitis C virus-induc ed liver failure is a leading indication for liver transplantation.