Clinic spreads Hepatitis C through reused needles, 1200 may be affected
The reuse of syringes at a Taoyuan clinic to treat Hepatitis C patients may have spread the disease to an estimated 1200 patients, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
▲圖／翻攝自中國郵報
The ministry investigated the incident after five Hepatitis C cases emerged at Weilian Clinic (維蓮診所) in Taoyuan City. It later determined that needles used to administer treatment for the five infected patients were not disposed of but used repeatedly — possibly infecting 1200. The incident represents the first iatrogenic cluster of the disease in Taiwan.
The ministry is urging patients who received jabs at the clinic between June 10, 2016 to May 12 of this year to undergo health checks to determine if they were infected with Hepatitis C. The Ministry said it would assist with treatment if necessary.
Speaking at a legislative committee, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung revealed that the clinic not only reused needles, but also stocked expired drugs. Chen said the outbreak at Weilian was an isolated incident.
Weilian will be shut down for the next three months and personnel connected to the incident will be subject to legal penalties. Patient compensation issues would be made in accordance to the law, said Chen.
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