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Former lab technician accused of spreading Hepatitis C

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    Suspect left contaminated needles to be used on others

  • Duration 2:52
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Hospitals and at least eight states are investigating -- hepatitis C outbreak that could affect thousands of one time patients.

Federal prosecutors accused this infected former lab technician of spreading the disease to some thirty patients at Exeter hospital in New Hampshire.

Police there say he injected himself -- drugs meant for the patients and then let the contaminated needles to be re used on others.

These -- the states where the suspect reportedly worked medical officials are now encouraging thousands of former patients to get tested for Pepsi.

Prosecutors charge the suspect with fraud and tampering with a consumer product he claims he did not steal drugs and that he's scared of needles.

Trace Gallagher with the news tonight wish.

-- would former patients know if they were affected.

Well even if they were tested tomorrow -- have the results would take more than a month to get so you can imagine for many -- -- be an agonizing wait they were supposed to begin testing patients in New Hampshire this weekend but because it was so poorly organized.

They decided to delay that now in the eight states that you mention David quick ask you worked at ten.

Different hospitals that's a lot of patience to go back and notify.

And remember you don't just get hepatitis C from dirty needles also from blood transfusions.

A mother can give it to -- baby.

And unprotected sex so police say one man started a very dangerous change listen.

The threat from this individual is is over.

As far as I'm concerned going forward I mean he's not going to be in a hospital setting.

With patients vulnerable patients at his disposal and and not the ability to hurt people.

However.

What he has done.

May hurt people going forward for very long time.

Now usually hepatitis C has no symptoms at all until they actually spot the liver damage in some extreme cases the skin will turn yellow.

And some people could experience nausea.

-- -- medical technicians don't give patients drugs so how did the suspect get ahold of this stuff.

-- the police believe the nurses could actually go inside the -- rooms and -- the syringes with painkillers and then David Corey Koskie would come in carrying one of those who lead -- you know that protective radioactivity -- radiation.

And said it over the good syringe and then switch it out with a dirty needle and a syringe that was actually filled with nothing but salt water so.

Not only.

Where the patients left in pain.

They were potentially infected.

Here's Dr.

-- They're supposed to do the right thing by you yes mistakes are made all the time when everybody is human but this is not a mistake this is.

And crying all the highest degree.

Centers for Disease Control says that hepatitis C kills more people each year than HIV.

-- Trace Gallagher live tonight -- thanks so -- man.

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