Hepatitis C virus (HCV)

The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a virus that primarily infects the liver and can cause an inflammation called hepatitis. It is often referred to as silent because the majority of infected people show no symptoms for many years. When they do appear, signs can include fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, and sometimes jaundice. The main risk of HCV is its tendency to become chronic, potentially progressing to cirrhosis or liver cancer if left untreated.

Structurally, it is an enveloped virus containing a single-stranded RNA genome. Its lipid envelope makes it fragile outside the body, but it has a great capacity for mutation, which allows it to easily evade the immune system and exist in several genetic variants.

HCV is mainly transmitted through contact with contaminated blood, particularly via shared needles, non-sterile equipment, or certain poorly disinfected medical or aesthetic practices. Sexual transmission is rarer but possible, and mother-to-child transmission can occur in some cases.

Good news: today, Hepatitis C is curable in over 95% of cases thanks to direct-acting antivirals, which eliminate the virus in a few weeks. However, there is no vaccine yet.

Prevention therefore relies on key actions: sterile equipment, not sharing objects that may contain blood, screening of at-risk individuals, and good safety practices in medical settings.

Want to add an icon of modern virology to your collection? Get the Hepatitis C virus sticker: discreet, cunning… but now largely controlled by science!
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PUN: I'm very hip-atitis!