A: There are different hepatitis viruses, the most common being hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Each hepatitis virus is different.

Hepatitis A is most commonly passed to others through food. But hepatitis C is not passed to others through food. Hepatitis C is transmitted from one person to another through blood-to-blood contact. Some of the common ways of having blood-to-blood contact that can lead to transmission of the hepatitis C virus to another person include (but are not limited to): sharing drug needles, sharing other drug paraphernalia (such as straws), contaminated medical or dental equipment, street tattoos, unsterile manicure or pedicure equipment, sharing razors, etc. Hepatitis C can also be transmitted mother-to-child at birth, or sexually (though this is rare) if the sexual activity involves blood-to-blood contact.

Hepatitis C is not passed to other people by sharing kitchen utensils, glasses, or dishes. Further, hepatitis C it is not spread by casual contact with others.

There is a lot of confusion about the different hepatitis viruses. Because hepatitis A can be passed through food, people in the food service industry sometimes get confused and think that all hepatitis viruses can be transmitted through food. This is not true. Again, it is only hepatitis A that is transmitted through food, not hepatitis C or hepatitis B.

None of your coworkers or customers are at risk of contracting hepatitis C from you through food. You cannot transmit the hepatitis C virus to anyone by simply preparing, serving, or delivering their food.

A: Hepatitis C is spread by blood-to-blood contact. Someone with an open wound would have to have that wound come into contact with infected blood in order for there to be a risk of transmitting the hepatitis C virus.

There is often confusion about what is meant by an "open wound." An open wound is one that is still bleeding or still oozing fluid. A wound that is scabbed over and nothing is coming out of the wound is a "closed wound" and therefore is not a possible entry site for the hepatitis C or other blood-borne viruses.

To prevent the possible transmission of hepatitis C (and other blood-borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis B), any equipment that may be contaminated with blood from any source should be cleaned before being used by someone else.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you clean up any blood (including dried blood) using a 1:10 bleach solution - one part bleach to every 10 parts of water. Anyone cleaning up blood or dried blood should wear protective gloves.

Many people with hepatitis C are unaware they have the virus. The same may be true with other blood-borne viruses. For everyone's safety, it is best to handle all blood spills by cleaning up the blood with a 1:10 bleach solution while wearing protective, disposable gloves.