33rd hepatitis C case confirmed in NH outbreak
Posted at: 06/06/2013 1:35 PM
By HOLLY RAMER
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(AP) CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire health officials say the hepatitis C outbreak associated with a former hospital technician has spread beyond his patients to a person who is believed to have had sexual contact with one of them.
David Kwiatkowski is accused of stealing drugs from Exeter Hospital and infecting patients with hepatitis C through syringes tainted with his blood. Since his July arrest, 32 patients New Hampshire have been diagnosed with the strain of hepatitis C carried by him.
The Division of Public Health Services on Thursday announced the 33rd confirmed New Hampshire case. It said sexual transmission of hepatitis C is very uncommon.
Kwiatkowski is scheduled to face trial on 14 federal drug charges in January. He has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer did not immediately return a call Thursday seeking comment.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
