IntroductionFor this essay, I will research Hepatitis C for targeted recognition towards technical publications such as JAMA, New England Journal Of Medicine etc. Hepatitis C (HCV) causes inflammation of the liver and can cause liver damage leading to cirrhosis. Occasionally liver cancer may develop. Initially called non-Anon-B hepatitis, hepatitis C was discovered in the early 1970s, but it wasn't until 1989 that testing for specific antibodies against the virus began. Each year, 15,000 Americans contract hepatitis C, which is a more common cause of chronic liver disease than hepatitis B. Although at least half of patients with acute hepatitis C become chronic, some estimate the rate as high as 80 percent . Who is at risk? People at risk include anyone who has had a blood transfusion, healthcare workers (who we intend to become in the near future), intravenous drug users, and hemodialysis patients. How is HCV transmitted? The virus is found in blood, semen, vaginal secretions and saliva. It can be transmitted through transfusions, sex, sharing razors, needles, toothbrushes, nail files or even barber scissors. All people infected with HCV are potentially contagious. About 3.5 million people are believed to be carriers, meaning they have the virus in their bodies and, whether they have symptoms or not, can infect others. Unlike hepatitis A and B, previous infection does not produce immunity. Is there a vaccine for hepatitis C? There is no vaccine for HCV and vaccines for other forms of hepatitis do not provide immunity against hepatitis C. What are the symptoms? Most people infected with HCV have no symptoms. Even if they have normal liver function tests, they are called carriers. The virus is in their blood and can cause liver damage. Carriers can transmit the virus to others. If symptoms are present, they are usually mild and flu-like: nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, headache, and abdominal pain. Most do not suffer from jaundice (yellowing of the eyes), however it can occur along with dark urine. Is there a cure? Few people are able to clear the virus from their blood, which is necessary to fully recover. More than half of the cases reported each year become chronic, meaning that liver enzyme levels remain elevated for at least six months after the acute infection. What does chronic hepatitis mean? Chronic HCV indicates gradual progression of the disease over 10 to 40 years. A