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It was reported that fourteen children receiving blood transfusions at the government-run Lala Lajpat Rai (LLR) Hospital in Uttar Pradesh have tested positive for both Hepatitis and HIV. Officials suspect that the issue may stem from inadequate virus testing procedures conducted on donated blood, although identifying the exact source of the infection may prove challenging.
Arun Arya, the head of the paediatrics department at LLR and the nodal officer for this center, expressed significant concern, emphasizing the risks associated with blood transfusions. He mentioned that the hepatitis patients have been referred to the gastroenterology department, while the HIV patients have been directed to a referral center in Kanpur.
Currently, 180 thalassemia patients receive blood transfusions at this center, and they are screened for viral diseases every six months. The fourteen affected children had received their transfusions at various private, district, and local hospitals when urgent medical attention was required.
Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized by insufficient production of hemoglobin, a crucial component of red blood cells. It is a manageable condition through treatments like blood transfusions and chelation therapy.
