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Patients of dentist with hepatitis B sought6 K% N* L$ ]8 z5 d$ L
Jodie Sinnema, edmontonjournal.com' C8 d) n8 b, _0 O2 F" J$ D% t
Published: Tuesday, June 17, 2008% i s8 p$ m- F9 b- T$ L( ~
EDMONTON — About 1,400 dental patients have potentially been exposed to hepatitis B after their Edmonton dentist tested positive for the virus. : n5 u4 o3 M+ T6 }" V
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Nurses started calling the patients today, advising them they can have free, voluntary testing for the virus that in a minority of cases can lead to cirrhosis or scarring of the liver, liver cancer or liver failure, all of which can be fatal. / C) |* }2 ^% J
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Dr. Jonathan Skuba, president of the Alberta Dental Association, answers reporters' questions at a news conference Tuesday on the case of a dentist who has tested positive for hepatitis B.
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% c: s. i4 B* L% {$ ^6 N& W/ T8 b. D% ZThe office of their dentist, 37-year-old Dr. Byron Wong, has been closed since February when Wong told the Alberta Dental Association and College he was infected.
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" z, D* v. G2 o O1 _# q) i“The risk is very small,” said Dr. Gerry Predy, medical officer of health for Capital Health, explaining that one in 10,000 to one in 100,000 people were put at risk by Wong, who had been practising as a dentist since 2001. “The dentist has agreed to give out his name because he’s concerned about his patients and we just want to be sure that the public is aware this is a very unique, specific situation, not generally related to dental practice overall. … We don’t anticipate that this is something people should be overly concerned about because the risk is very small.” & m G& x; A3 T
& ~0 H6 K, |% p* y; PPredy said children and most people between the ages of 10 and 28 are immune to hepatitis B, since the province has been vaccinating all Grade 5 students against the virus since the 1990s. Many older adults have also developed a natural immunity after fighting off the infection and building up antibodies. 8 a) s+ s& w! h
, J/ U7 ?3 @- q! v6 m, s$ FUp to five per cent will become chronic and lifelong carriers of the disease, which can be transmitted from mother to infant during birth, through sexual contact and contact with infected sharp objects, such as dental equipment. 7 e& L7 F! G+ o- j1 t% g' ?; h
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Dr. Jonathan Skuba, president of the Alberta Dental Association and College, said Wong won’t return to dentistry until an expert review panel deems it safe. When or if that might happen isn’t known, since it depends on Wong’s personal, confidential circumstances.
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“Throughout this entire process, Dr. Wong has been very co-operative and has acted in a professional manner,” Skuba said, adding that Wong has not been ill or experienced any symptoms of the virus such as nausea, jaundice or malaise. The dental college tests all dental students for hepatitis when they enter university, but doesn’t require annual blood tests for working dentists. However, any infection must be immediately reported to the regulatory body.
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Skuba said Wong wanted his name public so his former patients can be tested as a precaution. 1 W/ N3 z& o8 D5 N4 k8 m0 ]3 |8 I: j
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“This further demonstrates Dr. Wong’s professionalism and his utmost commitment to his patients,” Skuba said. 5 s& |1 t9 t: D/ E
, Z0 Q, k+ [3 lPredy said it could take up to two months to contact all of Wong’s patients. He said people should wait for a call, but phone Capital Health Link at 408-5465 if they have concerns. / G# j l s. |, W U6 x4 I
, T u4 B8 Z6 j% w: }+ ]. o1 Zjsinnema@thejournal.canwest.com |
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发表于 2008-6-17 19:02
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