Westside Medical Clinic Tied To Hepatitis C Outbreak

LOS ANGELES, CA — Hundreds of patients at a Westside medical clinic are being urged to get tested for hepatitis C after six patients who underwent procedures at the clinic were diagnosed with hepatitis C. The clinic has agreed to shut down during an ongoing investigation into the outbreak, according to county officials.

According to Los Angeles County health officials, six cases of hepatitis C have been linked to a Mid-City medical clinic. By Monday 500 patients were identified and encouraged to get tested for exposure. The county Department of Public Health, the agency sent hundreds of letters to patients, who were treated at Westside Multispecialty Medical Group, 6200 Wilshire Blvd. The letters provided information about hepatitis C and the availability of free testing.

Anyone who may have received injections, infusions or underwent medical procedures at the clinic from early 2016 through the end of 2018 should get tested for hepatitis C. The patients are also being urged to get tested for hepatitis B and HIV, which can also be spread through contact with blood.

According to the public health department, six of the clinic's patients have been diagnosed with hepatitis C, although the exact method of transmission has not been determined. The patients all underwent procedures at the clinic and did not report any other form of blood-to-blood contact.

Hepatitis C is a viral disease that can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Antiviral medicines can curethe vast majority of people infected.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.