Hepatitis B Outbreak Investigation

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) and the Ocean County Health Department (OCHD) are investigating cases of hepatitis B infection in patients who were treated at the same hematology/oncology practice in Ocean County.  The patients had no other known risk factors for hepatitis B.

NJDHSS and OCHD notified 2,800 patients in March, recommending they get tested for hepatitis B and other viruses as a precaution. One-hundred eight (108) individuals, including the five originally-identified patients, tested positive for hepatitis B virus or antibodies in their blood.  Of these 108 individuals, 19 were determined to be acute cases (recent infection) and 10 were found to be chronic (ongoing infection); these 29 cases all had invasive procedures at the practice and no other known risk factors for HBV infection. The other 68 positive cases are considered possible cases; therefore we can only say that they are possibly related to this outbreak.

In late August, the investigation expanded and 3200 additional patient notification letters were mailed. This number includes patients who received treatment at the practice from 2002-2005 and those from 2006-2009 who did not get tested upon receipt of the first notification letter.

The investigation found multiple breaches in infection control at the medical practice that may have placed patients at risk for transmission of bloodborne pathogens, which include hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

For Patients

Questions about the Ocean County Investigation
If you are a patient, call the Ocean County Health Department at 732-341-9700, ext. 7502, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Health insurer commercial lab list
• Patient letter
• Public talking points
• Summary document

Hepatitis Resources

• Hepatitis B Information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- FAQs, fact sheets, vaccination information, resources and links.
• "One Needle, One Syringe, Only One Time"  –One and Only Campaign. Questions to ask your provider before you receive an injection.
• Press Release - "Failures to Follow Infection Practices Have Placed More than 60,000 Patients at Risk for Hepatitis B and C."  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed healthcare-associated viral hepatitis outbreaks nationwide.
• Hepatitis B virus fact sheet
  

For Health Care Professionals

If you are a health care professional and have questions about the investigation, call the Department of Health and Senior Services at 609-588-7500, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..

• Letter to providers

Reportable Diseases in New Jersey

• Reporting Requirements for Communicable Diseases and Work-Related Conditions
  
• Communicable Disease Manual Chapter [pdf 167k]
• Reportable Disease Statistics

Hepatitis Virus Transmission in the Nonhospital Setting

• Annals of Internal Medicine --  Nonhospital Healthcare-Associated Hepatitis B and C Virus Transmission: United States 1998 -2008 – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed healthcare-associated viral hepatitis outbreaks nationwide.
• Press Release on Journal Article – "Failures to Follow Infection Practices Have Placed More than 60,000 Patients at Risk for Hepatitis B and C."
  

Preventing Infection in the Healthcare Setting

• "One Needle, One Syringe, Only One Time"  – Healthcare Provider Resources from the One and Only Campaign.  Injection safety information, FAQs, training resources and posters for patient rooms and work areas.
  
• Hepatitis B in Healthcare Settings --  Guidelines on protecting patients and health care workers, and information on past outbreaks of HBV infection
• Healthcare Settings and Viral Hepatitis –  Infection control guidelines, occupational exposures, and vaccination of health care workers.
• NJDHSS Safe Injection Practices Memo
• Safe injection practices FAQ
  

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