Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
Here is an explanation of the different types of HEP C if anyone is wondering what the numbers mean. It is possible to have more than one genotype if you have been infected multiple times.
Genotype patterns
It is believed that the hepatitis C virus has evolved over a period of several thousand years. This would explain the current general global patterns of genotypes and subtypes:
1a - mostly found in North & South America; also common in Australia
1b - mostly found in Europe and Asia.
2a - is the most common genotype 2 in Japan and China.
2b - is the most common genotype 2 in the US and Northern Europe.
2c - the most common genotype 2 in Western and Southern Europe.
3a - highly prevalent in Australia (40% of cases) and South Asia.
4a - highly prevalent in Egypt
4c - highly prevalent in Central Africa
5a - highly prevalent only in South Africa
6a - restricted to Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam
7a and 7b - common in Thailand
8a, 8b & 9a - prevalent in Vietnam
10a & 11a - found in Indonesia
Genotype patterns
It is believed that the hepatitis C virus has evolved over a period of several thousand years. This would explain the current general global patterns of genotypes and subtypes:
1a - mostly found in North & South America; also common in Australia
1b - mostly found in Europe and Asia.
2a - is the most common genotype 2 in Japan and China.
2b - is the most common genotype 2 in the US and Northern Europe.
2c - the most common genotype 2 in Western and Southern Europe.
3a - highly prevalent in Australia (40% of cases) and South Asia.
4a - highly prevalent in Egypt
4c - highly prevalent in Central Africa
5a - highly prevalent only in South Africa
6a - restricted to Hong Kong, Macau and Vietnam
7a and 7b - common in Thailand
8a, 8b & 9a - prevalent in Vietnam
10a & 11a - found in Indonesia
My therapist swore to me that what she knew of Genotype 2 was that it was primarily from the East Coast (originally) of USA. And I contracted it in Berkeley thru a blood transfusion. Why? Probably because so many UCBerkeley students back in the 70s&80s were from New York & other places back East, and many gave blood back then earn extra cash, etc.
But wow, I had seen this list somewhere else, and want to copy it & take it in to show her next appt.!