Hepatitis B found

The following is from Newsday.com


Health officials: Hepatitis B found among L.I. doctor's patients

NEW YORK -

Long Island health officials report a positive test for hepatitis among the patients of a physician whose needle technique put hundreds of people at risk.

Officials say they will not know if the patient contracted hepatitis B in the doctor's office for several weeks.

Nassau County Health Department spokeswoman Cynthia Brown says the patient would be retested.

Authorities have also widened their probe to include more of Dr. Harvey Finkelstein's patients.

The physician has defended his reputation as a dedicated caregiver during his more than 20 years in practice.

Health officials became aware of the problem nearly three years before urging more than 600 of Finkelstein's patients to get tested for hepatitis and the HIV virus.


Here is information about Hepatitis B:

Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. The virus, which is called hepatitis B virus (HBV), can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.
Hepatitis B vaccine is available for all age group

Hepatitis B
Also called: HBV

Hepatitis B is one type of hepatitis – a liver disease- caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Hepatitis B spreads by contact with an infected person's blood, semen or other body fluid. An infected woman can give hepatitis B to her baby at birth.
If you get HBV, you may feel as if you have the flu, or you may have no symptoms at all.
A blood test can tell if you have it.
HBV usually gets better on its own after a few months.
If it does not get better, it is called chronic HBV, which lasts a lifetime.

Chronic HBV can lead to scarring of the liver, liver failure or liver cancer.
There is a vaccine for HBV. It requires three shots.
All babies should get the vaccine, but older children and adults can get it too.
If you travel to countries where Hepatitis B is common, you should get the vaccine.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Hepatitis B(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player

What I Need to Know about Hepatitis B(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)