No reports of HIV, hep B and C linked to dental equipment in Beaufort Delta last spring, gov't says
Health officials issued advisory in October for people in some communities to get tested
Health officials in the N.W.T. say they've received no reports of communicable diseases linked to dental care in several Beaufort Delta communities last spring.
The territory's chief public health officer issued an advisory in early October recommending that residents who received dental care in several communities on certain dates last March and April get tested for HIV, hepatitus B, and hepatitus C. Those communities included Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok.
It said some dental procedures in those communities during those dates may have involved equipment that "was not properly cleaned, disinfected and sterilized as per standard procedures." It said the risk of exposure to infections was considered "very low," but advised people to get tested for HIV, hep B and hep C.
In a news release on Monday, the territory's health department did not say how many people followed the advisory and were tested.
The issue this fall prompted some Beaufort Delta residents to speak out about the poor quality of dental care in the region.
One Fort McPherson resident who was advised to get tested in October was also frustrated about the communication around the advisory at that time, saying she learned about it through social media posts before receiving any direct notification.