Hepatitis C is transmitted when the blood of an infected person enters the blood stream of another person. The risk factors include:
- Unsterile injecting practices (including sharing any equipment, water, tourniquets, and through unclean hands and surfaces)
- Unsterile tattooing or body piercing (including DIY, backyard and some overseas practitioners)
- Unsterile medical, surgical, or dental procedures and immunisation overseas (particularly developing countries)
- Sharing razors, toothbrushes, clippers or other personal effects with someone who has hepatitis C
- Unsterile cultural practices involving blood
- Coming into contact with infected blood of another person (for example disability care, nursing, first aid, and fighting)
- Vertical transmission (from mother to child)
- Having received blood products in Australia before 1991
- Needle stick injuries
- Unsafe sex in certain circumstances