EPIDEMIOLOGY OF THE HEPATITIS-C VIRUS

According to WHO estimations, about 3% of the world population may be infected with the hepatitis C virus. The relative prevalences of subty pes of this virus vary in different geographic areas. The main known r outes of transmission are parenteral; intravenous drug abuse, contamin ated injection devices and receipt of unscreened blood. Sexual, vertic al, household and nosocomial transmissions may occur, but seem to be r are. The risk of screened blood or blood products is now almost elimin ated, but unscreened blood is a considerable risk in areas where scree ning is economically not possible. The future impact of this virus is greatly dependent on the trends in intravenous drug use as well as the possible emergence of increased late morbidity among present asymptom atic carriers during the next decades.