1. An inflammation of the liver caused by certain viruses and other factors. 2. Certain hepatitis viruses can become chronic (long- lasting) and can sometimes lead to liver failure and death. 3. Hepatitis C is much more likely than hepatitis B to lead to chronic liver disease. 4. People infected with HCV can become chronic carriers of the virus, although they may have no symptoms. Special Note: it is estimated that there are approximately 4million HCV chronic carriers. Around 70 percent of all HCV carriers will develop chronic liver disease, regardless of whether they have symptoms. 5. The symptoms HCV can range from mild to severe. The most common early symptoms are mild fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. 6. Later symptoms may include dark coffee-coloured rather than dark yellow urine, clay coloured stools, abdominal pain, and yellowing of the skin and / or whites of the eyes (jaundice). 7. Hepatitis C can be treated with B