Final report: Hepatitis outbreak will cost $16 million to $21 million

The Southern Nevada Health District estimates that the total cost of the hepatitis outbreak will reach $16 million to $21 million, according to its final report on the outbreak released this morning.

That figure includes the costs of investigating the outbreak at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada and its related clinics, patient testing and counseling, and long-term medical treatment for patients infected with hepatitis and other blood-borne diseases.

The potential infections of 63,000 patients could have been avoided if staffers had used "well-established, safe, and common sense injection practices," the report said.

Contact reporter Brian Haynes at bhaynes@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0281.