Hepatitis C is primarily transmitted through exposure to infectious blood. The most common modes of transmission include:
- Injection drug use, where needles or syringes are shared. - Blood transfusions and organ transplants from infected donors (though this risk has been significantly reduced with screening). - Occupational exposure to blood, particularly among healthcare workers. - Perinatal transmission from mother to child during childbirth. - Sexual contact with an infected person, though this is less common.
