What is known is that around 4 million Americans are infected with Hepatitis C virus.

What is not known is how many Americans have it.

Are you one of them? Here are the indicators on how you could be infected:

Did you have a blood transfusion, blood products or an organ transplant prior to July 1992?

Have you ever used IV drugs?

Have you ever shared a crack or meth pipe, or anything else to snort drugs?

Do you have HIV?

Do you have any tattoos or body piercings?

Have you come in contact with the blood of an infected person?

Hepatitis C is considered the silent killer, though one in 70 people in the United States is infected with the virus.

In New Mexico there are 26,000 known individuals infected with Hepatitis C.

The good news is there is treatment for Hepatitis C, and beginning sooner is better to avoid liver damage or cancer.

A simple, painless blood test can determine whether you have been infected with HCV.

HCV is spread ususually by direct blood to blood exposure. Here’s how you can keep from contracting the HCV virus:

Don’t share drugs, needles or works.

Don’t share personal items like razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes or pierced earrings.

Make sure tattoo and body piercing equipment is sterilized.

Cover open sores or wounds.

Sexual transmission is rare. Safer sex using latex condoms can reduce the risk.

A mother can transmit HCV to her baby during pregnancy or birth, but this is rare.

Ask your regular health care provider for the test, or call 1-888-364-4372 for the location of your nearest New Mexico Department of Health testing facility where you can get free screening for Hepatitis C.