New Hepatitis C Cases Linked To Good Sam Outbreak

PUYALLUP, WA - The total number of hepatitis C cases in the Good Samaritan Hospital outbreak has grown by four, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department announced Wednesday.

The four new cases brings the total number to 12. A little more than 1,800 people have been tested, and another 900 still need to be tested. There are also an additional five cases still under investigation. Those five are confirmed as hepatitis C, but have not yet been genetically linked to the outbreak.

Good Samaritan revealed the outbreak on April 20 with an initial two confirmed cases. Around 3,000 people may have been exposed to the virus, according to the hospital. Health officials and the hospital have blamed the outbreak on a nurse. That nurse was fired and arrested - but she was released because prosecutors could not press charges.

“When you have hepatitis C, you can feel fine for many years while the virus does damage to your liver and threatens your health,” TPCHD communicable disease director Nigel Turner said in a release. “Because these people paid attention to the health notification from their provider, they are now able to seek treatment for this dangerous disease. With treatment, they can recover and prevent further spread of the disease in our community."

Image courtesy Google Maps