Rosann, Hepatitis C tends to be milder than hepatitis B in its early stages, but while only about 5 to 10% of B patients become chronically infected, C becomes chronic in about 50% of those infected. Approximately 20% of those develop cirhosis of the liver, and recently it has been shown that C may lead to liver cancer as well. As much as 25% of all hepatitis in the U.S. is hep C, 95% of all hep from transfusions is C. Hep C is viral and transmissible by blood, very similar to the virus that causes yellow fever ( a flavivirus). Kimberly Elms Arizona State University Department of Anthropology [log in to unmask]