India: After blood transfusion, 4 children become HIV positive, one dies
Doctor treating patients says tainted blood supplied to patients
Nagpur, Maharashtra: Four children in Nagpur tested Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection positive after blood transfusion, officials said on Thursday.
The four patients were given blood for treatment of Thalassemia.
“Four children have been infected with HIV, out of which one child has died. We will collect all the information and take action against the culprits after conducting a high level investigation,” Assistant Deputy Director of Health Department Dr RK Dhakate said.
He said the Food and Drugs Department (FDA) has also started preliminary investigation in the case.
“(FDA) has also started preliminary investigation in this case. Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) of blood given to Thalassemia patients would be done soon.
The doctor treating these patients said tainted blood was supplied to patients.
“They were tested during treatment and found HIV infected. Allegedly, they were infected with HIV and Hepatitis B after the contaminated blood was given to them by the blood bank. It is necessary to have NAT test of blood given to the children suffering from Thalassemia, but due to non-availability of this facility in the blood bank, the children became victims of HIV infection,” said Dr Vicky Rughwani.
Earlier, five Thalassemic children were infected by Hepatitis C while two children were reportedly infected with Hepatitis B.