Sydney Dentist William Tam Health Alert

Australia — New South Wales has issued a public health alert, urging thousands of former patients of retired dentist William Tam to get tested for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. This alert follows an audit by the Australia — Dental Council of New South Wales, which found significant concerns regarding infection control practices and patient record keeping at William Tam's Strathfield practice, where he worked for over 25 years. Although the risk of contracting these bloodborne viruses is considered low, the lack of comprehensive patient records makes it difficult for authorities to contact all potentially affected individuals directly. Leena Gupta and Zeina Najjar of the Australia — Sydney Local Health District have emphasized the importance of testing, as these viruses can remain asymptomatic for decades, and effective treatments are available. William Tam retired after the inspection and is no longer a registered dentist.