NEW YORK (Sputnik) — At least 213 people who visited a hospital in the US state of New Jersey may have been exposed to the HIV virus and other diseases as a result of drug tampering, Shore Medical Center spokesperson Brian Cahill told Sputnik.
"The internal investigation process revealed the employee had tampered with some medications between July 1, 2014 and September 17, 2014," Cahill stated on Thursday. "Patients could have been exposed to blood borne pathogens at Shore through contact with this employee’s blood."
The hospital noted that the pathogens include HIV, hepatitis B and C, and is providing free testing for all patients who may have been in contact with the employee.
However, Shore Medical Center did not comment as to how many of the 213 patients submitted for testing.
The employee was suspended immediately and his employment with the medical facility has since been terminated.
