MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs has
launched an investigation into whether there is a connection between
improperly sterilized endoscopy equipment and a veteran's positive HIV
test.This comes after more than 10,000 veterans were possibly exposed to
HIV and hepatitis at three VA facilities while undergoing colonoscopies
and other procedures with equipment that had not been properly cleaned.
The VA sent letters to those veterans offering free testing for
hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV."The VA prides itself on being
accountable, and we are extremely concerned about this matter, and as a
result we have initiated an investigation," Dr. Michael J. Kussman, the
VA's undersecretary for health, said in a news release Friday. "We have
an obligation to provide those who have served and sacrificed for our
Nation the care they deserve."Along with the positive HIV test, the VA says 16 other veterans have tested positive for hepatitis B and hepatitis C at two VA facilities. Of all the 17 positive test results, 11 were
at the VA's Murfreesboro, Tennessee, facility, and six were from the
VA's Augusta, Georgia, hospital. Thousands of other veterans are being
tested at the VA hospital in Miami, and the VA says it is waiting to
verify results there.So far, 3,174 veterans have been
notified of their test results. VA officials decline to say where the
veteran who tested positive for HIV was treated.
Watch more on the contamination controversy »Officials stress that the positive results don't necessarily mean the equipment is to blame. The VA
is conducting an epidemiological investigation at the facilities to
determine if the veterans who have tested positive for hepatitis have
similar strains of the virus. SOURCE:CNN.COM