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Edmonton Dentist Tests Positive for Hepatitis B

Posted on: Tuesday, 17 June 2008, 21:00 CDT

By Jordan Jackle, THE CANADIAN PRESS

EDMONTON - The patients of an Edmonton dentist who quit his practice in February after testing positive for hepatitis B will now be contacted and told about the situation.

Health authorities started calling patients of Dr. Byron Wong on Tuesday. Wong has practised in Alberta since 2001. Dr. Gerry Predy, vice-president of Capital Health, said the chance the disease was transmitted to any of Wong's 1,400 patients is very low - somewhere between one in 10,000 and one in 100,000.

"We don't anticipate that this is something people should be overly concerned about," said Predy.

Although the chances are small, officials decided to inform the public upfront rather then having it be found out later where it could "generate concern beyond what it should generate."

Predy said it took until now for an expert panel to determine how to handle the situation, complete a risk analysis and compile a list of his patients.

"He wasn't putting anyone else at risk by virtue of this time frame that's elapsed," Predy said.

He said Wong, 37, has been co-operative and gave permission for his name to be released so that his current and past patients can be tested as a precaution.

But that's as much information Predy was willing to give. He responded to some questions from reporters, including whether Wong would be able to practise again, by saying some details must be withheld to protect the dentist's medical privacy.

"There's a number of complexities following this situation," Predy said, adding that the situation is very unique. "Not just the individual has hepatitis B, but some of the other circumstances around it."

He wouldn't clarify what he meant.

Dr. Jonathan Skuba, president of the Alberta Dental Association and College, said this particular scenario has never happened before in the province. There are no current rules forcing dentists to get tested for infectious diseases, but if they find out they have one it must be reported.

"No health profession in Alberta has required blood testing of their health practitioners," Skuba said. "Knowing the nature of viruses and infections it would almost become impossible because someone could register, test negative, and a week later test positive."

Predy suggested Wong's patients wait until Capital Health nurses get in touch with them, although they can contact the department if they have questions.

He said the number of hepatitis B cases has been decreasing. In the 1990s, there were around 30 cases per year compared to between five and 10 right now. During followups in response to these cases, he said no one has revealed they'd recently had dental work.

Predy said children above 10 and adults up to the age around 28 are likely immune to hepatitis B as a result of elementary school vaccinations. Also, dental students are now required to get the shots.

"Vaccine given at that age is highly effective, probably over 99 per cent."

Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver caused by a virus. Most people who get hepatitis B recover in about three months. Other people get over their illness but do not get rid of the virus and become carriers who will have the hepatitis B virus for the rest of their life, though they won't have any symptoms.

They often do not know they are carriers and may spread the hepatitis B virus to others.

In a small number of people, the disease is severe enough to cause death.

Source: Canadian Press

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