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Published Thursday, May 8, 2008 | 10:09 a.m.
Updated Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008 | 2:14 p.m.
The Regional Health District of Southern Nevada announced today that 77 cases of potential hepatitis C cases have been identified from those who have been tested since an outbreak was announced in January.
The 77 cases are not acute hepatitis C, said Jennifer Sizemore, a spokeswoman for the health district. Of the 49,000 people notified by health officials, these 77 people were then interviewed and identified, she said.
To date there have been eight cases of acute hepatitis C cases identified with links to a clinic that reused syringes and provided anesthesia to two or more patients from single dose vials. Seven of them have been linked to the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada operated by Dr. Dipak Desai, who is not allowed to practice medicine and is under investigation by state and local authorities.
Seven of the acute hepatitis C cases have been linked to the clinic at 700 Shadow Lane and the eighth to another clinic owned by Desai.
Sizemore said that health district officials expected to find more hepatitis C cases as more people are tested. Health officials have interviewed people with hepatitis C who matched a list given to them by the Endoscopy Center, she said. It can take up to six months to develop acute hepatitis C, which can affect liver functions, she said.
I have been a RN in Texas for the last 12 years & I am outraged! I just received a phone call from my mother who had a procedure done at this clinic and may now be exposed to Hepatitis and/or HIV. This is a blatent disregard for patient safety! Any nursing staff that would continue to practice with those standards knowing they were putting patients at risk and/or risking their license being revoked over "cutting corners" or "following doctor orders" should have NEVER been issued a license to begin with. If you were connected to this Endoscopy Clinic & provided any type of care to patients.....PRAY for yourself & EVERY PATIENT that you directly may have infected due to your poor excuse for patient advocacy! SEE YOU ALL IN COURT!!!!