title: Global epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of liver disease worldwide and a potential cause of substantial morbidity and mortality in the future. The complexity and uncertainty related to the geographic distribution of HCV infection and chronic hepatitis C, determination of its associated risk factors, and evaluation of cofactors that accelerate its progression, underscore the difficulties in global prevention and control of HCV. Because there is no vaccine and no post-exposure prophylaxis for HCV, the focus of primary prevention efforts should be safer blood supply in the developing world, safe injection practices in health care and other settings, and decreasing the number of people who initiate injection drug use.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Branch, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. cvs8@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Colin W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Shepard
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Finelli
authors.forename: Miriam J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Alter
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000592:standards; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D014943:Global Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000821:virology