|
|
Patients Notified of Potential Exposure
|
Patients Tested
|
Confirmed Cases of Hepatitis C, Genotype 2b
|
|
McKay-Dee Hospital
|
4,855
|
2,922
|
15
|
|
Davis Hospital
|
2,362
|
809
|
1
|
|
Total
|
7,217
|
3,731
|
16
|
Hepatitis C can be divided into several distinct genotypes
based on genetic markers of the virus. The genotype associated with this
outbreak was identified as 2b, and the UDOH focused its investigation on
finding cases with a matching genotype.
Of the 15 genotype 2b cases from McKay-Dee Hospital, one is
the original case, one is the health care worker, and six were found to be infected
with hepatitis C prior to the investigation. Three of those six were known to
be infected with genotype 2b prior to the investigation.
In addition to the 16 total genotype 2b cases, the
investigation also identified 37 cases of hepatitis C with other genotypes. These
additional cases are not considered to be associated with this investigation. Seven
cases are currently pending genotype results.
“This investigation should show Utah residents their public
health system is serving them well,” said Dr. Angela Dunn, a CDC epidemiologist
stationed at the UDOH. “By partnering with the two hospitals we were able to
identify an infectious health care worker, establish that the worker may have
exposed patients, test those patients, and provide them with testing results.
Everyone working on this outbreak should be proud of these accomplishments.”
Dr. Dunn will be available for media interviews today at
10:30 a.m. at the Cannon Health Building, 288 North 1460 West, Salt Lake City,
room 125.
The UDOH launched the investigation in 2015 after tracing the
likely exposure of a hepatitis C case to McKay-Dee Hospital. The investigation
found a link to a health care worker who was infected with hepatitis C and was discovered
to be taking drugs intended for patients and using them for other purposes. The
scope of the investigation broadened after discovering the same health care
worker was also previously employed at nearby Davis Hospital and Medical Center,
and had admitted to engaging in similar behavior there.
“This investigation has been a massive undertaking for both
the hospitals and for public health,” said Dunn. “We commend the hospitals for
doing the right thing and ensuring their patients were alerted to the situation
and provided free testing and access to treatment where necessary.”
Despite these efforts, there are many individuals who may
have been exposed who have still not been tested. Both hospitals will continue
to offer free testing to any patients who were notified of their potential
exposure; and both continue to strongly recommend testing for those who haven’t
yet been tested.
Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver that can cause both
short and long-term illness. Symptoms can range from nausea, fever, joint pain,
jaundice, cancer or death if left untreated. The disease is spread when the
blood of an infected person enters the body of someone who is not infected. The
majority of people infected with hepatitis C have no symptoms for up to 25
years.
For more information on this outbreak, and on hepatitis C,
visit the UDOH web site at http://www.health.utah.gov/epi/diseases/hepatitisC/investigation.
# # #
Media Contact:
Tom Hudachko
Utah Department of Health
801-538-6232
thudachko@utah.gov
