Possible HIV exposure to 3778 US patients

Officials say patients who had procedures at a New Jersey health centre between January and September may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

The New Jersey Department of Health in the US says almost 4000 patients at a surgery centre may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Officials said patients who had procedures done at the HealthPlus Surgery Center in Saddle Brook between January 2018 and September 7, 2018 may have been exposed.

Surgery centre administrator Betty McCabe said the exposure was due to "deficiencies in infection control" involving the cleaning of instruments and injection of medications.

She said 3778 patients are being urged to get their blood tested.

The health department said the risk of infection is low, and no illnesses have been reported.

The department called it "an abundance of caution" to suggest that people be tested.

McCabe says the centre is offering to pay medical costs associated with testing.