Risk factor, demographic and epidemiologic parameters of HCV.

Growth rate (r) is the median values estimated by the growth model (exponential for HCV-1a and 3a and logistic for HCV-1b) that best-fit the data. Nucleotide substitution rates per site, per year and TMRCAs were estimated in Bayesian skyline runs using a relaxed uncorrelated lognormal molecular clock. The R values were estimated from data generated by BEAST and GENIE (in parenthesis) for mean duration of infectiousness (D) values of 2, 5, 10 and 15 years. BT = blood transfusion; IDU = injecting drug user; NIDU = non-injection drug use; unknown = patients with no history of being arrested, blood transfusion, tattoo, injecting or non-injecting drug use, HIV negative and no HCV positive partners.