Why sterilize? Public service message.

[shavindave]

Hepatitis C is transmitted by the blood of the infected person being transmitted into the bloodstream of the recipient. This is certainly a possibility with straight razors. I think disinfection is mandatory for those honing razors or having their own razors honed by others, or those buying a razor used by others. The likelihood of transmission is low, but the consequences if undetected can be devastating. Most carriers of Hepatitis C have no symptoms for many years and no knowledge of their infection. I believe that those honing razors for others have a moral obligation to sterilize the razors by a proven effective method. The honers themselves are at the highest risk if they are shave-testing multiple razors. The CDC now recommends that ALL persons born during the years of 1945 through 1965 have a single routine blood screening test for Hepatitis C antibody. This is especially relevant now, because there is highly effective oral antiviral therapy that can cure over 95% of cases.