Probe links cases of hep C to clinic

ZHENGZHOU - Preliminary investigations indicate that substandard practices at a county hospital's blood clinic have caused several patients to contract hepatitis C, authorities said on Monday.

Inspectors were sent to Xin'an Hospital in Henan province shortly after media reports exposed the spate of infections.

A preliminary report by the team, which consists of provincial health officials and their colleagues from Luoyang city, said the hospital's medics had "violated operation regulations".