Hepatitis C Outbreak at Changwon Hospital's Hemodialysis Unit ... 14 Patients and Staff Infected

Fourteen people, including one staff member and 13 dialysis patients, were infected with hepatitis C at the hemodialysis unit of a medical facility in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and South Gyeongsang Province said on October 21 that they had confirmed 14 cases at a hospital in Changwon.

Earlier, two hepatitis C cases were identified at Hospital A on September 14, and another infected person was reported by a different medical facility on October 1.

South Gyeongsang Province and the local public health center investigated the route of infection and found that all the infected patients had used the hemodialysis unit at Hospital A.

In response, the province conducted a full investigation of 75 patients and staff members who had used the hospital’s dialysis unit since June 2026, when exposure may have occurred, and confirmed a total of 14 infections.

Most of those infected have no specific symptoms, and no serious complications have been reported to date.

Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Government. [Photo by Lee Seryeong]

Health authorities have been conducting an in-depth epidemiological investigation since October 6 to determine the exact route of infection.

They are collecting samples from the dialysis unit and infected patients for genetic analysis, and reviewing each patient’s dialysis records, medical staff movements, medication use records, and CCTV footage to determine whether there were risk factors for infection during medical procedures.

The infected patients have been connected with medical institutions in the province so they can receive appropriate care and treatment.

Hepatitis C is a disease that causes inflammation of the liver after infection with the hepatitis C virus. It is transmitted through the blood of an infected person.

Infection can occur mainly through the reuse or sharing of syringes, contaminated medical equipment, blood transfusions, or hemodialysis. It is not transmitted through ordinary contact, such as eating together, shaking hands, or hugging.

In many cases, there are no specific symptoms in the early stages. If the infection persists without timely treatment, it can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Oral antiviral drugs have been developed in recent years, and early detection and treatment can lead to a cure rate of about 98% within 8 to 12 weeks in most cases.

South Gyeongsang Province is focusing on managing those exposed to the infection, investigating its route, and taking additional measures to prevent further infections and spread.

The province also urged local hemodialysis facilities to strictly follow precautions to prevent bloodborne infectious diseases, including hepatitis C.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.