6 Stokes patients have tested positive for hepatitis

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6 Stokes patients have tested positive for hepatitisKent County Health Department warns that 8,500 more could be at risk JeltemaAssistant News EditorGRAND RAPIDS - Six patients of former dermatologist Dr. Stokes may have been infected with a potentially fatal disease while 8,500 more will be notified that they may be at risk.The Michigan Department of Community Health announced Thursday that six former patients of Stokes, who worked out of offices in Greenville and Grand Rapids until last April, have tested positive for hepatitis C, a potentially fatal liver infection. The officials could not say whether the infections were a direct result of Stokes' care.The Kent County Health Department also announced Thursday that letters will be mailed to 8,500 more of Stokes' patients on Jan. 2 notifying them that they may be at risk of contracting an infection from Stokes.During a health care fraud investigation that wrapped up Thursday with the 56-year-old's sentencing in federal court, prosecutors discovered that Stokes allegedly failed to follow proper sterilization techniques and reused several pieces of surgical equipment designed for a single use.That led the Kent County Health Department and Mid-Michigan District Health Department in Stanton to send about 5,000 letters to Stokes' patients, including about 1,000 in Montcalm County, warning them that the faulty practices could leave them at risk for hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV.More patients may be identified as health officials continue to pore through computers and records seized from Stokes' Grand Rapids office in November.Health officials say the chance of being infected by Stokes is small but they are urging patients to discuss the situation with their primary care physician or be screened for the diseases anyway.The Kent County Health Department is staffing a telephone hotline at (616) 632-7260 from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, except holidays, for concerned patients of Stokes.http://www.thedailynews.cc:80/Main.asp?SectionID=2 & ArticleID=17809