U.S. News Hepatitis C Link in Colorado Cases Not Found for WeeksJuly 7, 2009 On Monday in Denver, a former surgical technician faced federal charges in a drug-theft scheme that potentially exposed thousands of patients to hepatitis C over a six-month period. Last Thursday, state officials announced that up to 5,700 patients at two surgical facilities should seek free blood screenings for hepatitis C. Tests administered before the technician started work at Rose indicated she might have hepatitis C. She was told to follow up with her doctor but did not do so. She did not disclose the possible infection to Audubon, which does not require the test. The technician confessed to swapping the syringes in late June, said Ned Calonge, the state's chief medical officer. State authorities immediately ordered the technician to stop working with patients and pharmaceuticals and issued the public warning. The technician reportedly told federal investigators she believes she contracted hepatitis C while sharing needles to inject heroin, which she said she used from 2006 to September 2008. Denver Post 07.07.2009; Jennifer Brown; Michael Booth; Allison Sherry This article was provided by CDC National Prevention Information Network. It is a part of the publication CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update.
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