About 1,400 Contacted So Far After Beaumont Blood Scare

EL PASO, Texas — William Beaumont Army Medical Center has now been in contact with about1,400 people who may have been affected by an error in using a device to administer insulin injections to diabetic patients, a spokesman with the hospital said Monday.

The error put diabetic patients treated between August 2007 and January 2009 at risk for blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis and HIV. Officials said earlier that over 2,100 patients may have been put at risk.

The 1,400 includes both people the hospital has contacted and who have contacted the hospital through the toll-free hotline that has been set up: 1-866-770-0194.

Arrangements are still being made to test people who have moved away from the area, the hospital spokesman said. The results take two to three weeks and testing began on Feb. 6.