Taiwan clinic hepatitis C cluster sparks mass patient tracing
Thestandard · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
A suspected infection-control scandal at Antai Songhe Clinic in Banqiao, New Taipei City, has led to 11 confirmed cases of acute Hepatitis C among patients who received injections there. Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control began investigating after a report on August 12 involving two infected family members, and later found a third relative in the same family had also contracted the virus. Inspectors said they found serious hygiene failures, including needles left in medication vials for repeated use and pre-filled syringes stored outside treatment areas. Authorities are now tracing 1,118 people who received injections at the clinic, with officials estimating 5 to 10 per cent could test positive.
Key Points
- The clinic in Banqiao district was ordered to suspend operations, stop giving injections, and was fined NT$300,000 after the outbreak was uncovered.
- The investigation began after New Taipei authorities reported two acute Hepatitis C cases on August 12 involving family members treated with nutritional therapy injections.
- A third relative from the same family was later confirmed infected, meaning three of five family members were found to have contracted the virus.
- CDC Director-General Lo Yi-chun said inspectors found improper sterilisation, needles left inserted in vials, and pre-filled syringes stored under a bed
- Health officials are tracing 1,118 patients who received injections including antibiotics, nutritional drips and hyaluronic acid, with possible positives estimated in the hundreds
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the case is a stark reminder that routine injections at private clinics can become a major public-health risk if basic infection-control rules fail. It also underlines why patients should ask about injection necessity, sterile handling and follow-up testing when exposed to possible blood-borne infection.