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Las Vegas Real Estate Blog

Your Las Vegas real estate information source. The latest news, new construction, scandals, additions to the strip and other Las Vegas and related information.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Crisis in Las Vegas: Doom and Gloom in Sin City

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Deadly poison found in Las Vegas

ricinIt has been an "interesting" week here (think the chinese proverb) in Las Vegas to say the least. A highly toxic poison Ricin was found here in the valley. Metro and the FBI are investigating and stated that currently they are treating it as a public safety issue. The poison was discovered in Roger Von Bergendorff's hotel room along with some firearms and an anarchist textbook. Von Bergendorff is still in the hospital, although the cause of his illness hasn't been determined. The FBI have also searched storage units and a relative's house in connection with the investigation. Authorities have confirmed the man was a loner.

Sources: Associated Press, Salt Lake Tribune

Possible Hepatitis Outbreak

If that wasn't bad enough, a series of local clinics were shut down due to a hepatitis outbreak. Talk about feeding the candidates with an example of why health care should be provided by the government. Clinic operators decided to SAVE MONEY by REUSING syringes, single drug doses, etc. People that used the clinic are now being tested for Hepatitis B, C and HIV, because they wanted to save a few bucks.

reused needlesMy neighbor actually went to the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada (located at 700 Shadow Lane) on the orders of his doctor for some tests the day before the outbreak occurred. The total number of clinics shut down is now up to six. Its estimated that as many as 40,000 people could be affected from just the one clinic. The clinic operates under the umbrella of the Gastroenterology Center of Nevada, which has several other clinics (some that have been shut down) across the valley. If you have used their services, its imperative that you get yourself tested. So far, six cases of Hepatitis C have been linked to the Shadow Lane clinic. But my neighbor has been told that they will need to be tested every six months for the rest of their lives.

Five certified registered nurse anesthetists who worked at the Shadow Lane location were asked to voluntary surrender their licenses. All five complied. Local police and county prosecutors have opened a preliminary criminal investigation this past Monday. Even with all these risks being front and center in the news during a recent inspection by the Nevada Health Division found unsafe practices at other clinics around the valley.

Local attorneys have started advertising for clients, you can hear the class action train coming.

The Southern Nevada Health District has set up a hotline. The number is (702)759-4636 (INFO) Call to schedule testing or if you have health questions. This past January the clinic was told to stop reusing syringes when administering drugs.

Sources: Las Vegas Review Journal, KLAS Channel 8

Historical Inter-racial hotel may get a facelift

In other more positive news, the Las Vegas Planning Commission voted to allow the Moulin Rouge restoration go forward, approving the various permits, variances, etc that are needed. Final approval for their application will need to be granted by the city council and that may happen in early April. I seriously doubt that the project will not get it. Its one of the few historic landmarks left, although only the facade and sign survived the arson in 2003. But considering the commitment of the city and Mayor Goodman about the continued revitalization of downtown Las Vegas, its a safe bet that the Moulin Rouge project will be approved. According to the developers, if the project is approved they plan on breaking ground next year and have phase one completed by the end of 2010.

source: city of Las Vegas

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4 Comments:

At 10:39 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

To save a few bucks? OMG what where they thinking? It seems that the operators missed the basic sanitation portion of their medical exams.

 
At 8:15 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You tied two hot issues together very well.

The Ricin find is a mystery yet to be resolved, while basic medical precautions were totally ignored.

Too bad it all fell on Las Vegas!

 
At 8:59 PM, Blogger PokerProf said...

The fact that this (the medical crisis) happened in a tourist destination like Vegas should really prompt our local corporations and politicos into swift action and full spin-mode.

The bottom line is this stuff really hits our fair cities bottom line

 
At 2:14 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

All the necessary measures should be taken to prevent this from happening, not only in Las Vegas but anywhere else.

 

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