99 victims in N China hepatitis C case

SHENYANG - Ninety-nine people are confirmed to have contracted hepatitis C after they received contaminated injections at a private clinic in northeast China's Liaoning Province, local authorities revealed on Friday.

A statement from the Donggang City municipal government said all patients have been hospitalized and are in stable conditions.

In late January, health authorities in Donggang traced and screened 120 people who had received varicose vein treatment at the clinic.

Xue Feng, a doctor at the practice believed to be mainly responsible for the infections, has been arrested and may face criminal charges.

The statement said another doctor at the clinic, two municipal officials and another at the local television station have been sacked or suspended for their roles in the scandal.

An health official said the privately run clinic had posted fake TV ads and flouted medical rules by using one syringe needle in all its varicose vein treatments.

The hepatitis C virus causes a liver disease, which the World Health Organization says can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer.