Hepatitis C for health professionals

Hepatitis C is a treatable viral infection that affects the liver. It is a nationally notifiable disease. We monitor and report on national case numbers and epidemiological trends. We publish national case definitions and guidelines to support health professionals and health authorities.

For health professionals For everyone

Disease

  • Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus, which belongs to the Flaviviridae family. 

    Hepatitis C virus primarily infects hepatocytes (liver cells), leading to both acute and chronic liver inflammation. 

    The virus has high genetic variability, with at least 8 genotypes and many subtypes that can influence disease progression and treatment response.

  • Most people with acute hepatitis C are asymptomatic.[1][2] 

    Up to 1 in 3 patients have symptoms, which typically include:

    About 1 in 3 people with acute hepatitis C infection recover without treatment.[3]

    Most people with untreated acute infection develop chronic hepatitis C – that is, infection lasting more than 6 months.

    Chronic hepatitis C is asymptomatic until the liver is damaged, which can take many years. 

    Serious complications of hepatitis C include:

    Hepatitis C infections can be cured by antiviral medications. 

    Read more about symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C.

Public health importance

  • Australia is seeking to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030. 

    Hepatitis C is a major public health issue globally and in Australia. It is a major contributor to chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). 

    Hepatitis C disproportionately affects certain population groups who are more likely to be exposed to the virus or face barriers to timely diagnosis and treatment. These barriers include:

    •  stigma
    • discrimination
    • limited access to culturally safe care. 

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are particularly impacted due to enduring effects of colonisation, racism and inequity.

    Because of these major impacts, we:

  • Hepatitis C diagnoses in Australia have declined substantially since the introduction of effective treatment. 

    From 2015 to 2024, hepatitis C notifications reduced by 38%[4] due to:

    • public health actions
    • more effective treatment with fewer side effects, since 2014
    • universal access to the improved treatment through the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme, since 2016. 

    Despite these efforts, in Australia:

    • 7,405 hepatitis C infections were notified in 2024, with almost three-quarters (71%) in males[5]
    • an estimated 68,890 people were living with chronic hepatitis C at the end of 2023.[6]

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – particularly young men – are disproportionately affected.[7][8] 

    At the end of 2020, about 18% of Australians living with chronic hepatitis C were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.[7]

    Hepatitis C rates are typically higher in people living in regional areas than major cities. 

    For the latest information on hepatitis C incidence, severity, transmission and virology in Australia, see the:

Spread of infection

  • Hepatitis C virus is transmitted through blood-to-blood contact.[9]

    In Australia, transmission most commonly occurs through contaminated injecting drug equipment – including needles and syringes.[2]

    Transmission can also occur through:

    • contaminated tattoo or body piercing equipment
    • vertical transmission
    • sexual contact, especially for men who have sex with men
    • shared personal items – such as razors and toothbrushes
    • exposure to infected blood in healthcare settings.

    In the past, unscreened organ transplants or blood products presented a risk of transmitting hepatitis C. But the risk in Australia has been very low since screening started in the early 1990s. 

    Hepatitis C infection does not lead to immunity. A person who clears the infection or has been successfully treated, can be reinfected if exposed to the virus again.

  • Symptoms usually start between 2 and 26 weeks after exposure to the virus.[9]

  • People are considered infectious from when hepatitis C virus RNA is detectable in blood – between 2 and 14 days following exposure[2] – until the infection is either:

    • cleared by the body
    • cured through antiviral treatment.

Priority populations

Prevention

  • There is no vaccine against hepatitis C.

  • Hepatitis C can be prevented by avoiding contact with infected blood. 

    Prevention measures include:

    • using sterile equipment
      • when injecting medication or drugs
      • for body piercing, tattoos or cosmetic procedures
    • not sharing personal items like razors and toothbrushes
    • using safe sex practices – for example, condoms during sex
    • testing during pregnancy, especially for pregnant people at higher risk of exposure
    • maintaining infection prevention and control measures in healthcare settings.

    Australia has implemented rigorous screening of donated blood and tissues.

    Read more about how to prevent hepatitis C.

  • Strategies to prevent acute and chronic hepatitis C infection among priority populations include:

    • testing people at greater risk of exposure and treating those who test positive for hepatitis C
    • providing access to harm reduction for people who inject drugs, including needle and syringe programs, opioid agonist treatment and peer education
    • running education and awareness activities developed in consultation with priority populations
    • supporting peer workforces to promote prevention, testing and treatment
    • working to reduce stigma, racism, and discrimination.

    Read more about priority populations in our national strategy.

Diagnosis and clinical management

  • Hepatitis C is usually diagnosed through laboratory testing. Hepatitis C serology requires a blood sample. 

    If the serology test is positive for hepatitis C antibodies, nucleic acid amplification testing (such as polymerase chain reaction or PCR) of the blood sample will be used to confirm current infection.

    Point-of-care tests are available for hepatitis C in some healthcare settings. They may detect either hepatitis C antibodies or RNA using blood finger-prick samples.

    Additional genotype testing may be done to investigate reinfection or to guide care. 

    For more information go to:

  • Read more about laboratory testing and the laboratory case definitions.

  • Hepatitis C is treated with antiviral medications. Follow-up testing of a blood sample for hepatitis C RNA should be done at least 12 weeks after treatment to confirm cure (successful viral eradication).

    People with cirrhosis need long-term monitoring after successful viral eradication to screen for other complications, such as hepatocellular carcinoma.

    Successful treatment of previous hepatitis C infection does not protect against reinfection.

    Read more about the clinical management of hepatitis C. 

Notification and reporting

Public health response

  • The Communicable Diseases Network Australia national guidelines for public health units inform the public health response to hepatitis C. This includes how hepatitis C cases, contacts and outbreaks are managed.

  • Case management focuses on:

    • identifying the likely source of infection
    • identifying any contacts or co-exposed individuals
    • preventing transmission and reinfection.

    People with hepatitis C should be: 

    People with hepatitis C typically do not need to isolate. Some people may have work restrictions depending on their role and work setting.

    Read more about:

  • Contacts are not required to quarantine. 

    Contact tracing is done to:

    • identify people who may have been exposed to hepatitis C
    • test contacts for infection
    • provide advice and public health education.

    The extent of contact tracing will depend on the duration and likely source of infection.

    Read more about how hepatitis C contacts are managed.

  • How public health authorities respond to hepatitis C cases and outbreaks depends on: 

    • state or territory legislation
    • local reporting requirements
    • the nature of the cases or outbreak
    • available resources. 

    Hepatitis C preparedness and response initiatives include:

    • engaging early and establishing trust with local community and health services – including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health organisations
    • co-designing hepatitis C prevention strategies with communities
    • tailoring public health education and messaging to at-risk people and health professionals
    • enabling access to appropriate harm reduction, testing and treatment services
    • establishing effective pathways for collaboration with custodial health services.

    The Communicable Diseases Network Australia national guidelines for public health units provides more information on how to respond to hepatitis C infection. 

  • Special situations, priority populations and high-risk settings might require extra investigation and public health actions. 

    Read more about

Resources

References

We are adding new content to this website and expanding these pages, including a suite of disease-related information. In the meantime, information about diseases in Australia is available on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s website. 

Last updated: