Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is an infection in the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus.  Over time, the virus causes liver injury and scarring and can make you very sick.  The liver is an organ that helps digest food, break down toxins and drugs, and store vitamins and minerals.

Local Information

2024 Statistics

Incidence rate is the number of new cases of disease divided by the number of persons at risk for the disease during a particular time period.

Cases:
30*

Incidence rate per 100,000 in 2024: 21.4

*Includes confirmed cases in 2024.

Incidence Rate per 100,000 of Hepatitis C by Year

A line graph showing the crude rate and five year moving average of Hepatitis C by year within the Health Unit region between 2015 and 2024.

  • Case Counts: Public Health Ontario. Query: Case counts of reportable diseases by public health unit and year. Toronto, ON: Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion; extracted on January 16, 2025.
  • Population estimates: Statistics Canada 2014-2022, IntelliHEALTH Ontario, Ministry of Health, extracted on April 23, 2024.
  • Population projections: Statistics Canada, 2023, IntelliHEALTH Ontario, Ministry of Health, extracted on April 23, 2024.

Contacts

Anyone who has been exposed to the blood of a person who has hepatitis C is called a contact and is at risk of getting the virus. Those at highest risk are:

  • People who shared drug equipment with a case.
  • People who have shared personal-use items like razors and toothbrushes with a case.
  • Long-term sexual partners of a case.
  • People who have had sexual contact with a case when blood was present.
  • Other people who have been in contact with a case's blood.

Contact should see a healthcare provider, explain that they may have been exposed to hepatitis C, and ask to be tested for the virus.

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (NBPSDHU)

  • Hepatitis C virus testing, vaccines, harm reduction education and supplies, referrals to other community agencies.
    • North Bay Office: 705-474-1400 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808
      • for testing, call the Sexual Health Clinic, ext. 5289
      • for vaccines, call the Vaccine Preventable Diseases program, ext. 5252
    • Parry Sound Office: 705-746-5801 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808
      • for testing, call the Sexual Health Clinic, ext. 5289
      • for vaccines, call the Vaccine Preventable Diseases program, ext. 3214

AIDS Committee North Bay and Area (ACNBA)

  • Hepatitis C virus testing, treatment, vaccines, harm reduction supplies, food rescue, assistance with transportation to appointments and housing, assistance with ODSP and Ontario Works paperwork, physical assessments, and social support services.

Harm Reduction Services

Safer drug injection supplies, safer crack and crystal meth inhalation kits, safer sex supplies, and sharps disposal are available at these locations:

  • Health Unit - Naloxone kits are also available.
    • North Bay Office: call Clinical Information Services at 705-474-1400 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5282.
    • Parry Sound Office: call 705-746-5801
  • AIDS Committee of North Bay & Area - Safer snorting kits and naloxone kits are also available.
    • North Bay: 102-147 McIntyre Street West, 705-497-3560
  • Ontario Addictions Treatment Centre
    • North Bay: 456 Ferguson Street, 705-497-1620
    • Parry Sound: 32 James Street, 705-774-9669
  • Alliance Centre
    • Sturgeon Falls: 3-172 Ethel Street, 705-753-2271

Ontario Health and Community Services Locator

Report to the Health Unit by next business day by phone at 705-474-1400 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5229 if hepatitis C is confirmed as per Ontario Regulation 135/18 and amendments under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O., c.H.7.

No exclusion necessary.

Follow the direction of your healthcare provider or occupational health at your workplace.

Contact our Communicable Disease Control (CDC) program at 705-474-1400 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5229, or by email to cdc@healthunit.ca for more information.

Last updated: February 2025, by CDC

Contact Us

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit

North Bay
345 Oak Street West

Parry Sound
90 Bowes St, 2nd Floor, Suite 201

Phone 705-474-1400
Toll Free 1-800-563-2808
contact@healthunit.ca