In New York, authorities are urging 4,500 people who were treated by the same anesthesiologist to be tested for Hepatitis C . Three people who have tested positive for Hepatitis C were treated by the same anesthesiologist during outpatient procedures. The New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is trying to notify everyone who could be at risk. Hepatitis C cannot be spread by casual contact and is fully treatable, but they are attempting to contact anyone who could possibly be at risk. The doctor has stopped practicing during this investigation.
In a statement from the agency’s assistant commissioner for communicable disease, Dr. Marci Layton said, “transmission of hepatitis in a medical setting is rare, but as a precaution we are reaching out to anyone who could have potentially been exposed.”
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