HCV infection occurs among persons of all ages, but the highest incidence rate of acute hepatitis C is found among persons aged 20 to 39 years, and males predominate. African Americans and whites have similar incidence rates of acute disease; persons of Hispanic ethnicity have higher rates. In the general population, the highest prevalence rates of HCV infection are found among persons aged 30 to 49 years, and among males.  Unlike the racial/ethnic pattern of acute disease, African Americans have a substantially higher prevalence of HCV infection than do whites (Figure 2).