Hepatitis C (HCV) has been called the most serious public health threat now facing the United States and the world at large. Caused by a blood-borne virus, HCV infects approximately 4 million Americans and 170 million people worldwide. The current rate of infection in the United States is about four times the current rate of HIV infection. It is believed that one out of fifty Americans is infected with HCV, but only ten percent of those people are aware of it. HCV is the leading cause of cirrhosis of the liver. The good news is that HCV is relatively difficult to transmit. The bad news is that once exposure occurs, transmission occurs readily and leads to chronic infection in about eighty-five percent of cases. The Lone Star Legal Aid Hepatitis C Project provides information and resources about hepatitis C, for both clients and advocates, that will help debunk myths and misinformation. The Hepatitis C Project also provides mentoring for advocates who work with clients who have hepatitis C, regardless of their client's legal issues. Our hope is to conduct outreach, to increase awareness, and to improve outcomes for HCV positive clients. Just as research into treatments and prevention of HCV is evolving, so too is this project. Check this site frequently for new developments. Our project coordinator, Linda Good, has published an article, "The 'Shadow Epidemic': Hepatitis C and the Law," in the May-June 2001 issue of Clearinghouse Review .