Abstract
WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC? Phylogenetic analysis has revolutionized the detection and understanding of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) transmission patterns. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? Three distinct transmission cluster patterns were identified across China: a large cluster with nationwide distribution, two medium clusters predominantly in the Central and Eastern China, and 103 small clusters scattered across 19 provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs). Each cluster type exhibited unique characteristics of expansion risk and inter-provincial transmission patterns. No genetic linkages were found between Chinese sequences and those from other countries. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE? These findings underscore the critical need for a comprehensive national molecular epidemiological surveillance network.