There are at least 600 veterans that may have been infected by several types of diseases due to violations in infection control procedures. These veterans have received care and service from Tomah VA.

According to a WEAU report, almost 600 veterans were being notified that may have been infected with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV after they have received a service from a particular dental provider.

Director Victoria Brahm of the Medical Center has revealed that the dentist was using his own equipment and he was cleaning and using it again. This action has violated the VA's regulations. It was done for one year, from October 2015-2016. Well, it was also reported that this dentist was removed from service and is now doing an administrative role in the hospital.

"It was purposeful that he was violating VA regulations," Brahm said. "During all of the orientation, he used all of our equipment. He used it appropriately, so it was very purposeful from what we found in our investigation that he knew exactly what he was doing, and preferred to use his own equipment against procedure."

Moreover, the VA is now offering screenings for free to those veterans. They will also provide free medical treatment as well if a test will be positive for any infection.

Meanwhile, we can recall that VA hospital in Missouri was set to stop its operation as it might have exposed more than 1,800 veterans with life-threatening diseases in 2010. These diseases include hepatitis and HIV.

In a CNN report, it was mentioned that Representative Russ Carnahan reported that John Cochran of VA Medical Center in St. Louis had sent letters to the 1, 812 veterans. The mail was containing an advisory that they could contract hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) after visiting the medical center.

"This is absolutely unacceptable, no veteran who has served and risked their life for this great nation should have to worry about their personal safety when receiving much needed healthcare services from a Veterans Administration hospital." said Carnahan, a representative from Missouri

Stay tuned for more updates!

Related