The hepatitis C virus, commonly known as HCV, is a small (50 nm in size), enveloped, positive sense single strand RNA virus in the family Flaviviridae. It is estimated that between 150 to 200 million people are infected with hepatitis C, worldwide. Hepatitis C infects the liver, causing liver inflammation ("hepatitis"), and eventually cirrhosis (fibrotic scarring of the liver), liver cancer and/or liver failure.