the cdc estimates that 3. 2 million people in the u. s have chronic hepatitis c infection a long-term illness that happens when the virus remains in a person's body. most of those people don't know that they have it because they don't look or feel sick. an estimated 19 000 people in the us have acute hepatitis c infection which is a short-term illness that happens within six months of being exposed to the hepatitis c virus.
how common is hepatitis c?