Prison Fellowship

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • All Options
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • Start a Fundraiser
    • Pray With Us
    • Justice Action Center
    • Share on Social
Search
  • STORIES
    • Stories
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • The Restoration Series [Videos]
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Why Help Prisoners?
    • What We Do
    • In-Prison
      • Prison Fellowship Academy
      • In-Prison Programs
      • Hope Events
      • Inside Journal
      • Women’s Ministry
      • Create: New Beginnings
    • Angel Tree
      • Register your church or group for Angel Tree
      • Prison Fellowship Angel Tree
      • Angel Tree Christmas
      • Angel Tree Camping
      • Angel Tree Sports Camp
    • Justice Reform
      • Justice Reform
      • Second Chance Month
      • News & Updates
      • Sign the Justice Declaration
      • Get a Copy of Outrageous Justice
    • Warden Exchange
    • Church Partners
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Preparing Prisoners for Reentry
    • Research and Evaluation
      • Good Citizenship Model®
  • RESOURCES
    • Subscribe to Our Email
    • Support for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Resources for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Coping with Incarceration
      • Resources for Prisoners
      • Resources for Children of Prisoners
      • Supporting Successful Prisoner Reentry
      • Subscribe To The Hope Connection
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Angel Tree Coordinator Training
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • Create: New Beginnings Book
    • Share on Social
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Beliefs
    • Mission & Vision
    • Financials
      • Financials
      • 2024 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
      • About Chuck Colson
      • The Charles Colson Hope Awards

How to Survive Prison: The Dangers of Hepatitis C in Prison

How to Survive Prison: The Dangers of Hepatitis C in Prison

joseph serna judge olivera

Guarding Your Health

Nobody knows just how many of America's 2.1 million people in jail or prison have hepatitis C (HCV), the most dangerous and deadly type of hepatitis. But according to the National HCV Prison Coalition, it is estimated that between 10% and 33% of all America's prisoners may be infected, compared with only 1–2% of the general population.

The most dangerous aspect of hepatitis C is that more than half of the infected prisoners don't know they have it. This disease goes by nicknames such as "the silent killer" or "the silent epidemic." Hepatitis C can lie dormant for as long as 20 to 30 years before symptoms start showing. But once hepatitis C settles in and becomes chronic, many of these warning signs go away.

What Is Hepatitis C?

All hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Liver testing will reveal hepatitis infection and usually identify the strain. Long-term hepatitis C not only leads to liver cancer but can also cause cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, as normal liver cells are replaced by connective tissue.

Twenty percent of people who get hepatitis C will clear it out of their body naturally, probably without even knowing they had it. But, without treatment, 25% of patients diagnosed with hepatitis C will suffer liver failure or liver cancer.

Hepatitis C Symptoms

Symptoms include joint aches, loss of appetite, dark urine, fever, yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice), stomach pain, and vomiting.

How is Hepatitis C Spread?

Hepatitis C is a bloodborne infection. It is most commonly spread by:

  • Sharing personal care items such as razors, toothbrushes, fingernail files, or clippers, and pierced earrings.
  • Sharing drug paraphernalia.
  • Using shared, unsterilized tattoo equipment, including the ink.
  • Having unprotected sex.
  • Having received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992.

Hepatitis C Is Not Spread By:

  • Sneezing or coughing.
  • Kissing or hugging. (Although hepatitis C has been found in saliva, it is not transmitted that way. It is transmitted only by having blood-to-blood contact.)
  • Casual contact (handshakes).
  • Eating prepared food. (Even if someone who has hepatitis C cuts himself and drips blood into the food, it is unlikely that anyone eating the food will get infected. The enzymes in the digestive track will destroy or deactivate the virus.)
  • Sharing eating utensils or eating the same food. (Hepatitis C is transmitted by contaminated blood directly entering your bloodstream, not your stomach.)

DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY OF PRISON SURVIVAL GUIDE TODAY!

Prison Survival Guide is a unique resource for current prisoners who want to make the most of their time behind bars. If you are preparing for a prison sentence, or if you have a loved one behind bars who you want to see thrive, this guide is for you.

  • Get your free copy of the Prison Survival Guide today!

  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

DID YOU ENJOY THIS STORY?

Make sure you don't miss out on any of our incredible transformation stories! Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter, and you'll get great content delivered directly to your inbox.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER

Men and women in prison are looking for hope. And nothing provides hope like the living Word of God. The demand for Bibles and Christian content is at an all-time high. Will you help us meet the need? Please give generously today.


DONATE

About Emily Harris Greene

Emily Harris Greene is an editor and writer. She is based in Virginia. Read More Stories by Emily Harris Greene

TOPICS COVERED IN THE PRISON SURVIVAL GUIDE

How to eat right and stay fit in prison

How to 'Get Busy Living' behind bars

5 tips for calling home from prison

10 tips for incarcerated spouses

Parenting from prison

How to survive your first weeks in prison

Changing the way we think

I'm in prison and depressed. Now what?

Thinking about suicide? Read this first

Is your cellmate crying out for help? Be aware of the warning signs

The dangers of Hepatitis C

Living with God in prison 

Join our online community

Facebook Facebook X (Twitter) X (Twitter) Instagram Instagram YouTube YouTube LinkedIn LinkedIn
PF®
PFM®

RECOMMENDED LINKS

  • Ways to Donate
  • Inspirational Stories
  • Angel Tree
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Justice Reform

RESOURCES

  • For Families & Friends of Prisoners
  • For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
  • Warden Exchange

JOIN RESTORATION PARTNERS AND WITNESS GOD RESTORE LIVES

Restoration Partners give monthly to bring life-changing prison ministry programs to incarcerated men and women across the country.

 

JOIN NOW
  • CONTACT US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • PRIVACY
  • FINANCIALS
© 2025 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

Angel Tree®, Angel Tree Camping®, Angel Tree Sports CampTM, and Warden Exchange® are programs of Prison Fellowship®.