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A hepatitis C outbreak at a colonoscopy clinic in Nevada may just be “the tip of an iceberg,” said the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday.
Large Number of Patients Potentially Exposed
Last Friday, the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada was shut down after health officials linked six cases of hepatitis C to unsafe practices, including reuse of syringes, at the facility. An additional 40,000 patients are being notified of the risk and urged to get tested.
“This is the largest number of patients that have ever been contacted for a blood exposure in a healthcare setting,” said Dr. Julie Gerberding, head of the CDC. “Our concern is that this could represent the tip of an iceberg and we need to be much more aggressive about alerting clinicians about how improper this practice is.”
Testing for Hepatitis
Hepatitis C is a virus that can cause fatigue, jaundice, and potentially fatal liver disease. About 80 percent of those with the disease show no symptoms. Hepatitis B also attacks the liver but is not as common as hepatitis C.
Dr. Dipak Desai, head of the clinic, said a foundation was being established to pay for the cost of testing.
A Nevada legislative committee is looking into the matter, but several lawsuits have already been filed.
(Source: Associated Press)
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