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drugs. It can also be spread through other means like birth to an infected mother, healthcare exposures, and in some cases, sexual contact.

Here's a more detailed look at how Hepatitis C can be caught:

1. Sharing Needles for Drug Injection:
This is the most common way Hepatitis C is transmitted.
Sharing needles, syringes, or any other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs can expose a person to infected blood.
Even if a person isn't injecting drugs, they can still be at risk if they come into contact with contaminated needles.

2. Birth to an Infected Mother:
Infants born to mothers with Hepatitis C have a chance of contracting the virus, though it's less common than with Hepatitis B.
The risk is estimated to be about 1 in 20 for babies born to infected mothers.

3. Healthcare Settings:
Accidental needle stick injuries in healthcare settings can transmit the virus if the needle is contaminated with infected blood.
Healthcare professionals are trained to follow strict infection control practices to prevent this, but breaches in these practices can still lead to transmission.

4. Sexual Contact:
Hepatitis C can be spread through sexual contact, though it's less common than other sexually transmitted infections like HIV or Hepatitis B.
The risk of sexual transmission is higher among men who have sex with men and when an infected partner has HIV.

5. Other Transmission Routes:
Unregulated Tattoos or Piercings:
Tattoos or piercings done in unlicensed facilities or with non-sterile equipment can transmit Hepatitis C.
Sharing Personal Items:
Sharing razors, toothbrushes, or other personal items that may have come into contact with infected blood can also pose a risk.
Blood Transfusions and Organ Transplants:
Before 1992, when the blood supply was not screened for Hepatitis C, it was also spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants.

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