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Bloodborne Pathogens Section
Hepatitis G Fact Sheet
Cause
- Hepatitis G Virus (HGV). Also known as GB virus-C (GBV-C)
- HGV and GB virus-C were discovered about the same time, and are thought
to be different strains of the same virus. Referred to below as HGV/GBV-C.
- HGV/GBV-C was first described in 1995-96
- HGV/GBV-C is a single stranded RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae
family
Clinical Characteristics
- Carrier rate of between 2 and 5% in the general population.
- Causes persistent infection for up to 9 years in 15-30% of adults.
- HGV/GBV-C is often found in co-infections with other viruses, such
as hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV)
- There is little proof that Hepatitis G (Hep G) causes serious liver
disease at any age. It is possible that HGV/GBV-C may not be a true 'hepatitis'
virus.
Signs and Symptoms
- Almost no cases have symptoms like the other Hepatitis viruses.
Modes of Transmission
- Transmitted by infected blood or blood products
- HGV/GBV-C can be transmitted by sharing personal items contaminated
with the virus and other similar behaviours (parenterally), from mother-to-newborn
child at birth (vertical), or various sexual activities.
Persons at Risk
Persons |
Level of Risk |
Recipients of infected blood or blood products |
High |
Hemodialysis patients |
High |
Injection Drug Users |
High |
People getting tattoos, acupuncture or body piercings
with tools that are not sterile |
Medium |
People with impaired immune response |
Medium |
People who engage in prostitution |
Medium |
Homosexuals |
Medium |
Prevention
- If you are regularly exposed to blood or blood products from others,
try to protect yourself with gloves to reduce the risk of the spread
of viruses.
- If you use injection drugs, ensure you use clean, sterile needles.
Sharing needles, syringes or other drug-use equipment with others can
put you at risk of infection.
Treatment
- There is currently no recommended treatment for Hep G.
Canadian Data on the trends of HGV
- Evidence of HGV/GBV-C is found in 1-4% of the Canadian blood donor
population (2001).
Reference: Bloodborne Pathogens Section, Blood Safety Surveillance and
Health Care Acquired Infections Division, Health Canada, 2003
[Blood Safety Surveillance and
Health Care Acquired Infections Division]
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