Hepatitis C re-infection

Key points

After a person is cured of hepatitis C, either because their body spontaneously cleared the virus or because they received treatment, they can get hepatitis C again (reinfection).
Providing education and prevention resources can help to prevent reinfection.
If a person gets hepatitis C again and does not spontaneously clear the virus, they will need to receive treatment to be cured of hepatitis C.

After a person is cured of hepatitis C — whether through spontaneous clearance or treatment — they do not develop immunity against the virus. This means they can get hepatitis C again if they are exposed to the virus. This is called reinfection. Reinfection can occur if a person has ongoing risks for getting a new hepatitis C infection, such as reusing drug use equipment.

Preventing reinfection is an important part of hepatitis C treatment. People who are at ongoing risk for hepatitis C infection should receive counselling on continuous prevention strategies and have access to essential prevention services, such as harm reduction supplies and testing. For more information, see the Prevention and harm reduction section.

Regular testing for hepatitis C is recommended for those at ongoing risk of reinfection. A healthcare provider may recommend regular testing every three, six or twelve months. This will help identify people in the early stages of reinfection and engage them in care as early as possible.

If reinfection occurs, the treatment process is the same as treating a person with hepatitis C for the first time. If the virus does not spontaneously clear within six months, they will need to be treated again. It is important to support individuals experiencing reinfection in a nonjudgmental way when discussing treatment options and providing guidance.

Resources for service providers