Authorities in the state of Victoria fear threats to public health, after 12 female patients, all under the care of the same doctor, contracted Hepatitis C. The doctor in question was later suspended from practice.

The anesthetist also had the infection and the fact how it was transmitted to his patients is being investigated by the Medical Practitioners Board and the police.

According to the DNA tests conducted by the Department of Human Services, the strain of the virus that was found in the infected patients was also found in the DNA of the doctor.

The identity of the doctor has been kept under anonymity, but it has been revealed that he was practicing in a Melbourne-based abortion clinic between June 2008 and December 2009.

The infectious disease takes a long time to show its symptoms, making it very difficult to treat, when it is detected. It causes liver-related problems, many times proving to be fatal.

Dr John Carnie, Victoria's Chief Health Officer, when asked about the actions that the Health Department is currently taking, said that as a precautionary measure, all the patients who visited the clinic are also being tested for the infection.