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Four Children HIV Positive Post-Transfusion in Satna
16 Dec
Summary
- Four children with thalassemia contracted HIV after transfusions.
- Infection suspected from blood bank in Satna, Madhya Pradesh.
- Blood testing protocols and donor tracing are under scrutiny.
In a disturbing incident in Satna, Madhya Pradesh, four children suffering from thalassemia have tested positive for HIV after receiving blood transfusions at the District Hospital blood bank. This revelation, which surfaced recently after occurring approximately four months ago, has sent waves of panic through affected families and ignited critical questions regarding the safety of blood transfusion services.
The children, requiring regular transfusions for their condition, received blood units as part of their ongoing treatment. Subsequent medical check-ups revealed their HIV-positive status, leading to allegations that contaminated blood supplied by the blood bank was the source of transmission. Mandatory national guidelines require rigorous testing of blood for HIV, Hepatitis B, and C before transfusion, prompting suspicion of either inadequate screening or the use of non-sensitive testing kits.
Further complicating the investigation, blood was sourced from multiple locations, including Rewa and other state facilities. Donor tracing has been hampered by incomplete data, with only about 50 percent of donors identified so far without a definitive link to the infections. Authorities are now conducting a comprehensive probe into the entire blood transfusion chain, from sourcing and testing to storage and record-keeping.
