Image: Kiedove

Another new drug diversion case: 

Released 4/4/16 Click to read.

The good news is that free testing has been conducted on more than half of those receiving letters.  So far, 37 HCV cases with other genotypes have been identified; 7 others are waiting genotyping.  These cases, while not part of the nurse/hospital outbreak, are now informed of their status.

“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.”

When the legal actions take place, we’ll learn about how the actual contamination took place (LINK TO TV VIDEO).  These civilian cases show how easily, even in “state-of-the-art” facilities with modern “standard precautions,” HCV can spread exponentially via contact with the infected blood from only one person.