More cases linked to Puyallup hospital Hepatitis outbreak

TACOMA – Health officials say more hepatitis C cases have been linked to an outbreak at a Puyallup hospital.

The News Tribune reports new tests results from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention identified six new cases tied to the outbreak at Puyallup’s Good Samaritan Hospital, bringing the total of cases up to eight.

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department leaders said Thursday that all are linked to the same genetic source.

They also found another similarity in the eight cases: All of the patients involved received intravenous injections from a nurse who no longer works at the hospital and has denied infecting patients.

The nurse, Cora Weberg, was arrested May 4 on suspicion of second-degree assault. She was released the next day with no charges filed.

Her nursing license has been suspended.