EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HEPATITIS-C VIRUS (HCV)

The geographical repartition of HCV is heterogenous. In Occidental countries, the HCV seroprevalence among blood donors is less than 0.5%. In South-Eastern Asia, the seroprevalence is less than 2%. In Africa, in Egypt and in some Central African countries, HCV seroprevalence rates more than 5% have been reported. The main route of transmission is parenteral. After needle stick accident the risk of contamination is between 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.