Tag: Raleigh Heart Clinic

County to Help Pay for Hepatitis Testing for Clinic Patients

The Raleigh County Commission has voted to cover some of the testing costs for Raleigh Heart Clinic patients possibly exposed to hepatitis.

News outlets report that hundreds of people have been flocking to the Beckley-Raleigh County Health Department for testing after officials announced earlier this spring that 16 people have tested positive for hepatitis B or C in connection with cardiac stress tests conducted at the heart clinic.

Raleigh County commissioners on Tuesday approved more than $8,600 to the health department to help cover the costs. The clinic has been billed for reimbursement.

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources will pay for lab work.

Officials have urged more than 2,300 patients of the heart clinic to be tested for hepatitis B and C as well as HIV.

More Heart Clinic Patients Notified About Hepatitis Risk

Health officials have notified more patients at a West Virginia heart clinic who may have been exposed to hepatitis.

Local media outlets report that the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources announced Monday that four additional cases of hepatitis C were detected by the state Bureau of Public Health.

In March, the bureau investigated 12 cases of hepatitis linked to injectable medications given during cardiac stress tests at the Raleigh Heart Clinic in Beckley.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Rahul Gupta says the four additional cases were contracted before March 1, 2012.

Officials are urging anyone who may have received a stress test at the clinic prior to that date to be tested for hepatitis B and C as well as HIV.

12 Cases of Hepatitis Linked to Beckley Clinic

Officials have investigated at least 12 cases of hepatitis linked to a heart clinic in Beckley.

The viruses have been linked to injectable medications given during cardiac stress tests at the Raleigh Heart Clinic.

Department of Health and Human Resources Director of Communications Allison Adler says that eight patients receiving cardiac stress tests have tested positive for hepatitis C and four others have tested positive for hepatitis B. There has not been any evidence of HIV transmission.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Rahul Gupta says the extent of how many individuals were exposed to the pathogens is unknown. Officials are now urging about 2,300 patients of the Raleigh Heart Clinic to be tested for hepatitis B and C as well as HIV.

Officials Investigate Possible Hepatitis Exposure in Beckley

  The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources is urging thousands of patients to get tested after possible hepatitis exposure at a Raleigh County heart clinic.

Multiple media outlets report that a letter issued by the department in Charleston says several cases of viral hepatitis appear to be associated with a cardiac stress test performed at Beckley’s Raleigh Heart Clinic.

The DHHR says all patients who had the stress test at the clinic between March 1, 2012, and March 27, 2015 were sent a copy of the letter.

As a precaution, the department is recommending that all these patients get tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.

Patients and healthcare providers who have questions may call the Bureau for Public Health information line.

Officials are investigating.

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