Eighth hepatitis C case linked to medical clinic

Health officials reported last week an eighth case of acute hepatitis C was linked to a Las Vegas endoscopy center, and that thousands more might have been exposed to that and other blood-borne diseases.

Brian Labus, the Southern Nevada Health District's senior epidemiologist, said the latest acute hepatitis C case was linked to the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada's clinic at 700 Shadow Lane. The patient underwent a procedure at the facility in June 2005 and developed symptoms within nine weeks, Labus said.

The case was never reported to the health district, as required under state law.

The Shadow Lane facility is at the center of the health crisis, which caused officials to send warnings to 40,000 people to be tested for hepatitis strains and HIV.

Labus informed the health district board that thousands more patients who might have been exposed to blood-borne diseases during medical procedures at the clinic have yet to be warned they're at risk. Some 10,000 patients have not been notified, because clinic staff didn't give their names to investigators.

"The clinic told us that they had given us a complete list. Obviously, that wasn't true,'' Labus said Thursday. "Why? I can't answer that.''

MONDAY

Prosecutors get set for Gage retrial

Federal prosecutors preparing for the retrial of Noel Gage have submitted a request to admit into evidence a guilty verdict in a civil lawsuit against the personal injury attorney more than a decade ago in El Paso, Texas.

The federal government claims the lawsuit demonstrates that Gage engaged in a similar pattern of fraud long before he was indicted in Las Vegas on charges he conspired with doctors and a medical consultant to boost medical costs and settlements, then shared the proceeds.

A jury that listened to a month's worth of testimony in February and March could not reach a verdict. Gage's new trial is set to begin May 27.

TUESDAY

We're No. 2

in auto thefts

The Las Vegas Valley is no longer the worst place in the country for auto thefts.

It's second-worst.

After claiming the top spot for 2006, the Las Vegas metropolitan area ranks No. 2 for the rate of automobile thefts per capita for 2007, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Clark County had 1,036 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents, down from 1,261 in 2006.

WEDNESDAY

Girlfriend denies suspect in gang

Mandesha Walker, the girlfriend of one of the teens accused of murder in the drive-by shooting that killed Palo Verde High School freshman Christopher Privett, said her boyfriend, Ezekiel Williams, 18, wasn't in a gang.

During her two hours on the stand, however, Walker said a group of teens had showed off "gang signs" as Williams drove past on Feb. 15. She also testified that after the group flashed the signs, Willliams' co-defendant, 16-year-old Gerald Q. Davison, fired at least five rounds from the vehicle they were traveling in.

Walker testified at a preliminary hearing to decide whether Williams and Davison should stand trial. The hearing resumes Monday.

THURSDAY

Harrah's admits skipping steps

Harrah's Entertainment estimated in an internal audit that from 2000 to 2007, it spent more than $2.1 million on remodeling projects that bypassed mandatory safety steps at eight properties between 2000 and 2007.

Harrah's refused to release the audit to the public. Clark County authorities, too, initially considered it a private document. But the Review-Journal obtained a copy after the district attorney's office said the report is a public record.

FRIDAY

Governor isn't living in mansion

Gov. Jim Gibbons is not living at the governor's mansion because of marital difficulties with his wife, Dawn Gibbons, a spokesman said.

"To my knowledge, the governor has resided at both their private residence in Reno and at the mansion since he took office," said Jim Denton, in response to an inquiry about the governor's living arrangements.

"Currently, he entertains and conducts needed state business at the mansion, but is temporarily staying in the Reno residence while going through this difficult and painful time," Denton said.

COMPILED BY MICHAEL SQUIRES

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