Hepatitis C Warning - Endoscopy Center of Nevada - Thousands at Risk

The Southern Nevada Health District alerted
patients that had received injected anesthesia medicine during medical
procedures at the Endoscopy Center of Nevada, located at 700 Shadow Lane,
of high risk exposure and possible contraction of Hepatitis C,
Hepatitis B, HIV and other possible blood borne diseases. All people
that had procedures between March 2004 and January 11, 2008 and
instructed to seek medical attention from their doctors or health care
providers immediately to be tested for infection.

Important Questions and
Answers for patients that had procedures at this medical center and
believe they are at risk of exposure:

Q: Why are people being asked to get tested?

A: The health district was advised of 6 Hepatitis
cases, of which 5 have had medical procedures involving anesthesia
injections. The CDC and Health District, after investigation, reported
that unsafe injection practices of an anesthetic may have exposed
patients to the blood of other patients.

Q: How were patients exposed?

A: A syringe (not a needle) used on a patient was
used again on the same person to draw additional medication. The
re-drawing of medicine using the same syringe could infect the vial
from where the medicine was taken from the patient. The vial, not
identified for use on multiple people, was reused for another patient.
If the vial was infected with the blood of the first person, it is
possible that the vial could have been exposed to blood borne pathogens.

Q: How many people may be affected?

A: it is unknown how many people will contract
Hepatitis, HIV or other blood diseases but it is estimated that some
40,000 patients are at risk.

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The health district’s hotline is (702) 759-4636