title: Hepatitis type C: modes of transmission and preventive measures.
abstract: There is general agreement that the hepatitis C virus is efficiently transmitted parenterally, while data on viral transmission from mothers to babies or by sexual or non-sexual household contact are conflicting. In Italy, hepatitis C accounts for approximately 20% of all cases of acute viral hepatitis. It is more frequent among young persons (15-24 years old), among those living in the southern part of the country or on the islands, and in males than in females (3:1). In recent years the incidence rate has dropped and significant changes in the HCV transmission patterns have been observed. As a consequence of the implementation of anti-HCV screening and the introduction of increasing restrictions on donor eligibility, the proportion of cases arising from blood and blood component transfusions has significantly declined. A candidate vaccine to protect against hepatitis C virus is now under development.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tanzi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Zanetti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies