HCV can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 6 weeks. The acute process is self-limited, rarely causes hepatic failure, and usually leads to chronic infection. Chronic HCV infection often follows a progressive course over many years and can ultimately result in cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and the need for liver transplantation. Liver disease progression is faster in those with high alcohol consumption and in those co-infected with HIV and/or hepatitis B virus. Antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) can be detected in the blood, usually within two or three months after exposure to the virus. Although there is no effective vaccine for HCV the development of new antiviral medications in recent years has led to high cure rates for Hepatitis C infection. In 2020 there were 325 notifications of HCV in 2020 (HPSC).