Five Thalassemia Patients Contract HIV After Blood Transfusions In MP
The first incident of a thalassemia patient getting infected with HIV after blood transfusion in the district hospital in Satna was reported in March this year and the last such case was detected three months ago, sources in the district hospital at Satna told this newspaper on Wednesday.
Bhopal: Five thalassemia patients, aged between two and half years to 17 years, tested positive for HIV after alleged blood transfusion in a government hospital in Madhya Pradesh, leading the state government to constitute a six-member panel to probe into it.
The first incident of a thalassemia patient getting infected with HIV after blood transfusion in the district hospital in Satna was reported in March this year and the last such case was detected three months ago, sources in the district hospital at Satna told this newspaper on Wednesday.
“The matter came to light on Tuesday although the first incident was reported around nine months ago. The district AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) Control nodal officer has been issued a show case notice seeking an explanation for the delay in bringing the matter to the notice of higher authority”, a senior officer told this newspaper here.
As the sensational exposure sent shockwaves in the district, the state government sprang to action constituting a six-member panel headed by the principal secretary, health department, to probe the matter and submit the report within a week.
“I have ordered a high-level official probe into the matter”, deputy chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Rajendra Shukla who holds the health portfolio, said.
The probe committee will fix the accountability on the erring officers for the negligence causing the horrific incident, official sources said.
In-charge of the blood bank in the district hospital Devendra Patel said that the HIV infection may have been caused either by the blood transfusion or an infected needle.
A three-member district-level panel comprising the doctors of the district hospital at Satna has also been constituted to probe the matter.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that several of the victims had also received blood at other places like Rewa and Jabalpur in the state.
A thorough probe can only unearth the source of HIV infection, official sources said.