We have asked her if she will get treatment, but she said she doesn’t have a bad case of it. She especially likes to take bathes even on her period so I am worried that if she shaves and knicks something, will this be an issue for the person who may want to bathe after her. We’ve asked her to be cleaner, but so far she doesn’t seem to be concerned about her hep C.
Hepatitis c infected blood has to enter the blood stream of an infected person. Basically there has to be an open wound present and this hep c infected blood has to enter this wound.
Menstrual blood does carry the hep c virus and hep c can survive on surfaces if left undisturbed.
From the CDC:
“How should blood spills be cleaned from surfaces to make sure that Hepatitis C virus is gone?
Any blood spills — including dried blood, which can still be infectious — should be cleaned using a dilution of one part household bleach to 10 parts water. Gloves should be worn when cleaning up blood spills.”
I am somewhat surprised someone infected with hep c would be careless with blood getting on surfaces.
But in any case as long as the blood does not enter your blood stream you are not at risk. Household transmission of hep c is very rare. Just use caution in cleaning any blood spills per the CDC recommendations and you should be fine.
We really want to help her, but I don’t want anyone to catch something they don’t have.