The reuse of syringes at a Taoyuan clinic to treat Hepatitis C patients may have spread the disease to an estimated 1200 patients, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The ministry investigated the incident after five Hepatitis C cases emerged at Weilian Clinic (維蓮診所) in Taoyuan City. It later determined that needles used to administer treatment for the five infected patients were not disposed of but used repeatedly — possibly infecting 1200. Speaking at a legislative committee, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung revealed that the clinic not only reused needles, but also stocked expired drugs. Weilian will be shut down for the next three months and personnel connected to the incident will be subject to legal penalties.

Source: The China Post May 17, 2017 03:33 UTC