14 Thalassemia Victims Found HIV Positive After Transfusion Of Infected Blood

A shocking and heart throbbing case has come to light from Kanpur, where 14 victims of Thalassemia have become vulnerable to serious diseases due to transfusion of infected blood. Along with Hepatitis B, C, they have also been found HIV positive.

These infection was detected when the patients were examined at the Thalassemia Center of the Pediatric Hospital, Halat. Children suffering from Thalassemia must have a blood transfusion once in three to four weeks. They need blood 18 to 20 times a year

According to doctors these victims may have contracted the infection due to transfusion of blood taken during the window period. It is not yet known when thalassemia sufferers got the infection.

180 thalassemia patients undergo treatment in the Thalassemia Nodal Center of the Pediatric Hospital. Dr. Arun Kumar Arya, Head of Department of Pediatrics, GSVM Medical College, said that seven victims have been confirmed with Hepatitis B, five with Hepatitis C and two with HIV infection.

These victims are given blood transfusion at the centre. Apart from this, victims also get blood transfusion at private nursing homes and other private centres.

According to Dr. Arya says that if blood of Hepatitis B, C and HIV infected people is taken during the window period, the infection is not detected in the test. When someone gets infected with such blood, he also falls prey to this disease. Dr. Arya said that after the Corona period, the number of patients at the Thalassemia Center of the hospital has increased.

It is reported that before the Corona period, only 40-45 thalassemia sufferers used to get treatment in the said centre. But, after the lockdown the number increased as people could not go to centers in Lucknow and outside.
At present the number of Thalassemia victims is 180. Apart from the city, these include thalassemia sufferers from districts like Kanpur Dehat, Auraiya, Etawah, Farrukhabad, Fatehpur, Unnao etc. The tests were conducted after symptoms of infection were found in the victims. This confirmed the infection, he added.