COSTELLO EXPRESSES OUTRAGE AT FIELD HEARING OVER ST. LOUIS VA MEDICAL CENTER SAFETY LAPSE

WASHINGTON – Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) today joined House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) at a field hearing in St. Louis to address the potential exposure of 1,812 veterans to HIV, Hepatitis B and C and other blood-borne diseases from dental care received at the John Cochran VA Medical Center. Costello joined other bi-state area Congressmen in calling for the hearing after the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs notified veterans who may have been exposed. An inspection by the National Infectious Diseases Program Office (IDPO) found that the facility was not following standard operating procedures for sterilization, disinfection and cleaning of medical equipment.