Table 3 This table shows the summary outcome at the end of the outbreak

Date of detection of first and last case

27 July 2005 - 29 September 2005

Estimated date of first infection

20 April 2005

Number of susceptible subjects

45 (50 patients on HD 5 of whom already anti-HCV positive)

Number of clusters

1 main cluster plus 1 or 2 secondary events

Overall number of cases

13 (8 confirmed 5 possible)

Attack rate

28.9% (13/45)

Clinical attack rate

22.2% (10/45)

Fatalities

None

Index case

Female 81 with chronic HCV infection and end stage renal disease

Clinical outcome

5 chronic infections (none of whom was treated);

8 recovered (3 received Peg-IFN-2a therapy).

Associated factors

Lack in application of standard precautions (i.e. use of shared heparin and saline solution vials and possibly fail in changing gloves) and lack in risks management.