Nevada Health Agency Links 114 Hepatitis Cases to 2 Clinics
Earlier this year the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada and the Desert Shadow Endoscopy Center were under investigation for unsafe practices of reusing syringes and medicine vials. A total of 63,000 former patients of the clinics were possibly exposed to the potentially deadly hepatitis C virus. The Nevada Health Department has notified the former patients to get tested for hepatitis B, C and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. No cases of hepatitis B or HIV have been linked to the outbreak. However a number of hepatitis C cases have arisen. District officials have concluded that nine cases of hepatitis C have been linked to the unsafe practices at the two clinics. According to Brian Labus, the Southern Nevada Health District’s senior epidemiologist, “In putting everything together, we've identified 114 cases in total linked to the two clinics.” The other 105 people were diagnosed with the disease since becoming patients at the clinics, but could have contracted the disease in other ways, Labus said. Health officials say those diagnosed with the disease are receiving treatment. Hepatitis C can cause swelling of the liver, stomach pain, fatigue and jaundice. Even when no symptoms occur, the virus can slowly damage the liver. A widow of one of the clinic’s former patients has filed a lawsuit alleging her 60-year-old husband’s hepatitis C diagnosis and death in 2006 was the responsibility of the unsafe practices at the clinics. As a result of the investigation and the outbreak the two clinics have been shut down and the Doctors associated with them have surrendered their license to practice medicine pending the results of health district and police investigations. The former clinic owners are facing more than 120 lawsuits alleging medical negligence and a class-action by patients who claim emotional distress.
