Thread: NV-77 more hepatitis cases may trace to clinic, officials sa

77 more hepatitis cases may trace to clinic, officials say

By Ken Ritter
ASSOCIATED PRESS

11:42 a.m. May 8, 2008

LAS VEGAS – Seventy-seven more people diagnosed with hepatitis C may have been infected during treatment at a Las Vegas outpatient clinic, Southern Nevada Health District administrators said Thursday.
The 77 people are among about 400 former patients of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada who tested positive for the potentially fatal liver virus since an outbreak was made public Feb. 27. After testing, they matched with patient lists and were interviewed, said Brian Labus, senior health district epidemiologist.

Investigators can't say for sure how the 77 people were infected, Labus said, but they know each was treated between March 2004 and Jan. 11 this year at the clinic.

“They have the obvious risk factor, but we can't say for certain,â€

I MUST BE MISSING SOMETHING. I DONT SEE ANYTHING IN THIS ARTICLE THAT MENTIONS HOW THE HEPATITIS WAS GIVEN TO PATIENTS. WERE THEY RESUSING EQUIPMENT FOR THE ENDOSCOPIES? WHY WERE CRIMINAL CHARGES FILED? ANYONE KNOW?