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A large and complex outbreak of hepatitis C virus in Valencia, Spain that began 25 years ago led to the prosecution and conviction of an anesthetist who was accused of infecting hundreds of his patients. Evolutionary analyses of viral gene sequences were presented as evidence in the trial, and these are now described in detail by González-Candelas and colleagues in a paper published in BMC Biology. Their study illustrates the challenges and opportunities that arise from the use of phylogenetic inference in criminal trials concerning virus transmission.

Original publication

DOI

10.1186/1741-7007-11-83

Type

Journal article

Journal

BMC Biol

Publication Date

19/07/2013

Volume

11

Keywords

Disease Outbreaks, Evolution, Molecular, Hepacivirus, Hepatitis C, Humans, Jurisprudence