Omaha World-Herald Marks One Year Anniversary of Date Hepatitis C Outbreak Was Publicly Linked to Freemont, Neb., Clinic

The Omaha World-Herald on Monday -- approximately one year after the Freemont, Neb., hepatitis C outbreak was linked to Dr. Tahir Javed's clinic -- examined the repercussions of what "would become the largest hepatitis C outbreak on record" (Aksamit, Omaha World-Herald, 10/20). In October 2002, clinic officials discovered the outbreak in which nearly 100 people were infected and one person died, and the clinic was officially closed within one month. Health officials speculated that the infections, which can cause liver damage, may have occurred when a worker at the clinic, which specializes in chemotherapy and hematology, reused a contaminated needle and syringe to treat several people. Another possibility is that a worker used a contaminated needle to draw medication, thereby polluting the vial. State officials earlier this month revoked the medical license of Javed, who has since moved back to Pakistan (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 10/14). The complete article is available online.