Hepatitis C Myths

  • The Myth

    30% of HCV infections are caused by injection drug use.

    The Reality

    Up to 60% of new infections are caused by injection drug use.

  • The Myth

    Hepatitis C is a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

    The Reality

    Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is transmitted by blood-to-blood exposure. This myth is grounded in some truth. Hepatitis C can be transmitted sexually but the risk is very low. Safer sex is recommended for people with risk factors for hepatitis C, which includes people with multiple sex partners, men who have sex with men, women who have sex with women, and sex workers.

  • The Myth

    There are no effective treatments for hepatitis C.

    The Reality

    Today we have two FDA-approved regimens of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin which produce sustained virological response (SVR) rates up to 50% for people with genotype 1 and up to 80-90% for people with genotypes 2 and 3. The other good news is that once someone achieve an SRV the chances of long-term HCV eradication go up to 98-99%.

  • The Myth

    Diet and exercise won't make a difference to your overall health if you have hepatitis C.

    The Reality

    There is evidence that a healthy diet and exercise can keep the liver healthier and slow the progression of the disease.

  • The Myth

    There is a vaccine to protect against hepatitis C.

    The Reality

    There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. Research underway, but an effective vaccine is not expected for at least 10 years. There are vaccines for hepatitis A and B.

  • The Myth

    Men who have sex with men are at increased risk for getting hepatitis C.

    The Reality

    The rates of HCV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) are not substantially higher than the rates among heterosexuals.

  • The Myth

    Hepatitis C can be spread by mosquitos.

    The Reality

    No, you cannot get hepatitis from a mosquito bite. The results of experiments and observations of insect biting behavior indicate that when an insect bites a person, it does not inject its own or a previously bitten person's or animal's blood into the next person bitten. Rather, it injects saliva, which acts as a lubricant so the insect can feed efficiently. Diseases such as yellow fever and malaria are transmitted through the saliva of specific species of mosquitos.

  • The Myth

    If you have hepatitis C, drinking several glasses of wine each day won't hurt your liver.

    The Reality

    Alcohol is potentially toxic to the liver. Experts recommend that people infected with hepatitis C refrain from drinking alcohol, or drink as little as possible.