New taipei: A clinic in New Taipei's Banqiao District has been ordered to temporarily cease operations and fined NT$300,000 (US$9,439) after 11 patients contracted Hepatitis C as a result of medical safety and hygiene lapses, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Wednesday.
According to Focus Taiwan, CDC Director-General Lo Yi-chun announced at a press conference that the agency received a report on Aug. 12 regarding two family members in Banqiao diagnosed with acute Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Further investigation into the patients' medical records and a viral phylogenetic analysis confirmed by Aug. 17 that the individuals had received nutritional therapy injections at Antai Songhe Clinic in Banqiao.
The clinic, located near Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, was linked to another case on Aug. 24 when a third family member, also receiving nutritional therapy injections at the clinic, was diagnosed with acute Hepatitis C. Meanwhile, the contacts of the original two patients tested negative for the virus.
CDC and New Taipei Health Department officials conducted an unannounced inspection at the clinic on Aug. 20 and returned on Aug. 26 with infection control experts to further assess the situation, Lo reported.