Hepatitis C hits 14 at Changwon hospital dialysis unit; authorities investigate
In short
Gyeongnam Province and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on 21 October that 14 people, 13 dialysis patients and one staff member, have been confirmed with hepatitis C linked to a hospital dialysis unit in Changwon. Most of those infected have no symptoms and no severe complications have been reported. Authorities are running an in-depth epidemiological investigation, including genetic analysis of samples.
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Fourteen people who used or worked in a hemodialysis unit at a hospital in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, have been found to have hepatitis C, Gyeongnam Province said on 21 October. The 14 are 13 dialysis patients and one staff member. The province and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency are carrying out measures to prevent spread and an in-depth epidemiological investigation. Most of those infected have no symptoms, and no severe complications have been reported so far. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
According to the province, the hospital, referred to as Hospital A, registered two hepatitis C patients in the agency's disease surveillance system on 14 September. On 1 October another hospital registered one more patient, and authorities found that the patients from both hospitals had dialysis at Hospital A's unit. Hankook Ilbo and other outlets reported that the investigation began on 6 October. Authorities then tested all patients and staff who used the unit since June, 75 people, and 14 were found infected. Korea Economic Daily instead reported 13 infections among 65 patients and said the unit has 23 dialysis machines. Hankook Ilbo reported that all users had tested negative in a regular antibody test on 1 June, and Kyunghyang Shinmun and the Chosun Ilbo reported that the infected are in their 50s to 80s. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 13 , 14 ]
Authorities are collecting environmental samples from the unit and samples from infected people for genetic analysis, and are checking dialysis records, staff movements, drug use records and CCTV footage for infection risk factors. Hankook Ilbo quoted a disease control agency official as saying contaminated needles could spread the virus but that the route has not been established, and that spread to other institutions appears unlikely. A provincial official quoted by Korea Economic Daily said identifying the route will take more time. Maeil Business reported that the specific cause and timing remain unknown. [ 1 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 13 , 14 ]
Infected patients have been linked to medical institutions in the province for treatment, and the hospital was asked to check patients' health daily and keep patients and guardians informed. Infection-control education was given to more than 50 dialysis unit and nursing staff on 14 and 20 October, and the agency and province held three response meetings with experts from 8 October. The hospital is reported to be operating without accepting new dialysis patients. The province said it will keep checking for further infections, taking into account the possibility of cases without symptoms, and Maeil Business reported that 31 more people would be tested. [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 11 , 13 ]
The province and the agency urged dialysis institutions to follow infection-control rules such as hand hygiene, glove use and cleaning of equipment. They said hepatitis C spreads through the blood of infected people, not through meals or handshakes, and that early treatment with oral antivirals cures about 98 percent of cases within 8 to 12 weeks. The government offers free antibody and RNA testing to people aged 56 (born 1970) in this year's national health screening. Seoul Economic Daily noted that a recent hepatitis C cluster was in Daegu in 2023, with 23 cases. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 13 ]
Why it matters
The cluster is under investigation to find how hepatitis C spread in a dialysis unit, and authorities have urged dialysis institutions to follow infection-control rules. The province said it will keep checking for further infections because the virus can be carried without symptoms.
Key facts
- Fourteen people, 13 dialysis patients and one staff member, were confirmed with hepatitis C linked to a hospital dialysis unit in Changwon, Gyeongnam. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- The province and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced the cluster on 21 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- On 14 September the hospital registered two hepatitis C patients, and on 1 October another hospital registered one more who had also used the same dialysis unit. [ 1 , 6 , 13 ]
- Testing of 75 patients and staff who used the unit since June found 14 infected. [ 1 , 3 , 7 , 8 ]
- Most infected people have no symptoms and no severe complications have been reported. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 13 ]
- The hospital is reported to be operating its dialysis unit without accepting new dialysis patients. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 8 , 11 ]
- Authorities are examining dialysis records, staff movements, drug use records and CCTV footage, and are analysing genes from environmental and patient samples. [ 1 , 3 , 6 , 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Fourteen people, 13 dialysis patients and one staff member, were found to have hepatitis C after using the same hospital dialysis unit in Changwon. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
- Most of those infected have no symptoms, and no severe complications have been reported so far. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 13 ]
- The province and the disease control agency are investigating dialysis records, staff movements, drug use records and CCTV footage for infection risk factors. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 ]
- Infected patients have been linked to medical institutions within the province for treatment. [ 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 13 ]
- Infection-control education was given to more than 50 dialysis unit and nursing staff on 14 and 20 October. [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 13 , 14 ]
Still unclear
- How the infections spread Maeil Business wrote that the specific cause and timing have not been established, and a Korea Economic Daily quote from a provincial official said identifying the route will take more time.
- Whether contaminated needles were involved Only Hankook Ilbo quotes a disease control agency official, who gave needle contamination as a possible route and said the cause is not yet established.
- Whether more infections will be found Maeil Business reported 31 additional people would be tested and that the scale could grow, while Kyunghyang Shinmun reported further investigation of 31 users; the province said it will keep checking for more cases.
- How many people were tested Most outlets say 75 patients and staff were tested, while Korea Economic Daily says 13 infections among 65 patients and that the unit has 23 dialysis machines.
- Whether the infection spread to other institutions Only Hankook Ilbo reports an agency official saying this is unlikely and that no exchange of invasive procedures with other groups has been seen so far.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap reports the province's announcement of 14 hepatitis C infections linked to a Changwon hospital dialysis unit. [ 1 ]
- Newsis reports the disease control agency and the province said they are investigating. [ 4 ]
- Newsis reports the province's account of the 14 September and 1 October reports and the testing since June. [ 6 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reports a disease control agency official describing possible needle transmission, not yet confirmed. [ 13 ]
- Korea Economic Daily reports 23 dialysis machines and 13 infections among 65 patients. [ 14 ]