Hepatitis C outbreak at SGH: One more infected
TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — Another patient has been diagnosed with the hepatitis C virus at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH), bringing the total number of patients infected with the virus to 23.
This is the first positive test result since the hospital, two weeks ago, made public the viral outbreak and started recalling those who were warded or had worked in the affected renal ward.
In a statement tonight (Oct 21), SGH said one of the 598 patients screened so far had tested positive for the virus. This patient had been admitted into the renal ward between April and June this year.
Both the patient’s family and the patient have been informed, said SGH. The hospital will be arranging for a heptaologist to advise them on treatment options. Newer anti-viral drugs could cost up to S$90,000 per course.
“Phylogenetic studies done showed that this patient is associated with the cluster of 22 cases who were admitted to Ward 64A or Ward 67 from April to June 2015,” said Professor Fong Kok Yong, chairman of SGH’s medical board.
“We will provide the patient, who is currently well, and the family with our full support and ensure that the patient receives timely and appropriate care.”
The first case of the outbreak, which now involves 23 renal patients from SGH, was detected on April 17. News of the outbreak was made public on Oct 6.
To date, eight of these patients have died, and five of the deaths could be linked to the hepatitis C virus.
As of 6pm today, 598 out of the 678 patients who passed through the renal ward in the first half of the year had been screened. Of these, 531 tests results were negative, while another 66 are pending.
A total of 299 hospital staff have also been screened and tested negative for the virus.
Yesterday, SGH had lodged a police report to ascertain if any foul play had been committed. This came after an initial internal investigation failed to shed light on the cause of the outbreak.
The Health Ministry also announced on the same day that it had appointed two international experts on board of the Independent Review Committee, which is looking into the viral outbreak, “to strengthen its capabilities and provide additional technical and scientific input”.
Meanwhile, the Singapore Democratic Party today called for more information to be released regarding the handling of the outbreak, including the correspondence between Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, the Ministry of Health and SGH.
