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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.