A Veterans Affairs hospital in Missouri may have exposed more than 1,800 veterans to HIV and other life-threatening diseases due to improperly cleaned dental instruments.
The John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis recently began sending letters notifying 1,812 veterans from Missouri and Illinois who received dental work at the hospital between February, 2009 and March, 2010.
The letters say the risk of infection is low. But the hospital is offering veterans free screening for hepatitis B and C as well as HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
"We deeply regret that this situation occurred and we assure you that we are taking all the necessary steps to make certain that testing is offered quickly and results communicated timely," the letters said, according to the Post-Dispatch. (read more)
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