Apr 1, 2009 10:15 pm US/Central
Thousands Could Be At Risk In N.J. Hepatitis Scare
2,800 Urged To Get Tested For Hepatitis B, C & HIV
TOMS RIVER, N.J. (CBS) ―
A health alert was issued Wednesday for hundreds of people in New Jersey.
The warning was raised when five patients tested positive for hepatitis B after visiting the same doctor's office, reports CBS station WCBS-TV in New York.
Hepatitis B is a blood-borne disease that can be spread through sexual contact or when infected people share needles.
Some patients walking into Dr. Parvez Dara's practice said they are concerned after receiving a letter from New Jersey's Health Department that says it is investigating a cluster of hepatitis B "infections involving people who received care at Dr. Dara's two offices, including the one here in Toms River."
"If you're a patient of Dr. Dara's you might have been exposed to hepatitis B," said Linda Bradford of Bayville.
Bradford's husband is a patient of Dara's.
"The first thing I did was call my husband," she said. "I was terrified. Oh my God what's going on here?"
While health officials won't name the doctor by name, they confirmed five people are infected with hepatitis B after receiving care at Dara's two offices.
Investigators said they've sent out the letter to 2,800 patients, urging them to get tested for hepatitis B and C and HIV.
According to WCBS' Dr. Holly Phillips hepatitis B and C are equally dangerous.
"There are probably more deaths related to C, but B is harder to detect," Phillips said.
At least one state medical official said he think he knows what caused the scare.
"During the course our investigation we realized that certain staff at this practice had problems in not washing their hands when they should have, not changing gloves when they should have," said Dr. Cory Robertson of the N.J. Health Department.
Dara's attorney said his client's office is not responsible for the confirmed cases of hepatitis B.
"If you have five patients who have hep B from same office that doesn't mean they got it from the office," Robert Conroy said.
WCBS has learned Dr. Dara is also being investigated by the State Board of Medical Examiners, but most patients have nothing but nice things to say about him.
"Love him, he's very nice. I am very happy," Lorraine Molinski said.
The medical board will decide on Friday whether Dara should be suspended. In the meantime, health officials said he isn't allowed to perform procedures; just consult patients.
Health officials said some people spontaneously clear the hepatitis B virus, while others need treatment.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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