Which of the following is NOT a mode of transmission for hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is primarily transmitted through blood-to-blood contact, making modes such as shared needles and blood transfusions significant routes of transmission. For instance, individuals who share needles or engage in injection drug use are at a high risk for contracting HCV due to the direct exposure to infected blood. Similarly, before the implementation of rigorous blood screening processes, blood transfusions were a common way for HCV to spread.

Sexual contact is also considered a potential, albeit less prevalent, route of transmission. However, the fecal-oral route is not associated with hepatitis C transmission. This means that the virus is not efficiently spread via contaminated food or water or through the hands, as is the case with some other viral hepatitis infections, like hepatitis A or E. Therefore, identifying the fecal-oral route as a non-mode of transmission for hepatitis C correctly reflects our understanding of how this virus spreads and emphasizes the importance of blood exposure in its transmission profile.