Office of Viral Hepatitis Coordination

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis A, B & C are viral infections that can damage the liver & cause major health problems, including death. More info: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention ~ Hepatitis

• Hepatitis A (HAV) is transmitted (passed from one person to another) when the fecal matter of an infected person gets into another person's mouth
  
  
• Hepatitis B (HBV)) is transmitted when the blood or sexual fluids of an infected person gets into another persons blood stream through openings in the skin (cuts, sores, tears) or through the mucosal membranes
  
  * There is a vaccine to prevent hepatitis A & B, available from your medical provider or at the NYC Immunization Clinics.
  
  
• Hepatitis C (HCV)) is transmitted when the blood of an infected person gets into the blood stream of another person.

Are You at Risk For Hepatitis C?

• Have you ever injected drugs, even once a long time ago?
• Have you shared any drug use equipment, (needles, cookers, cotton, straws, pipes)
• Did you get a blood transfusion, blood clotting factor, have a surgery, tissue or organ transplant before 1992?
• Have you ever been on hemodyalysis?
• Are you HIV positive?
• Have you been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease of any kind (STD)?
• Have you had sex when blood passed from one person to the other?
• Does your sexual partner have Hepatitis C?
• Have you ever been stuck with a needle or exposed to another person'`s blood on the job?
• Are you a veteran?
• Have you been incarcerated?
• Did your mother have Hepatitis C?
• Have you ever gotten a tattoo or piercing anywhere other than a licensed business?
• Do you have abnormal liver tests for unknown reasons?
• Have you been told you have hepatitis?

back to top

Are You at Risk for Hepatitis B?

• Are you pregnant? All pregnant women are recommended to get the test for hepatitis B.
• Did your mother have hepatitis B when you were born?
• Do you need chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy?
• Have you ever been on dialysis?
• Have you ever been stuck with a needle or been exposed to someone's blood while on the job?
• Have you ever used a razor, toothbrush, or other household item that may have had blood or sexual fluids on it?
• Have you been diagnosed with HIV or any STD?
• Are you a man who has sex with men?
• Have you had sex with more than one partner in a 6-month period?
• Have you ever injected drugs or shared any drug use equipment (needles, cookers, cotton, straws, pipes)?
• Have you ever been incarcerated?
• Did you ever get a tattoo or piercing anywhere other than a licensed business?
• Do you have abnormal liver tests for an unknown reason?
• Have you ever been told you have hepatitis?

Geographic Risk

• Were you born in one of the following areas of the world?
• Were either of your parents born in one of the following areas of the world?
• Do you live with someone from one of the following countries of the world?
• Do you travel to one of the following countries?

back to top

For more information on where to get tested, click here.