Kerala: Minor girl tests HIV+ after blood transfusion

www.mangaloretoday.com

Wayanad, March 28, 2013: An eight-year-old girl, suffering from thalassaemia, has been afflicted by HIV after blood transfusions at two government hospitals, including one in Mananthavady in Wayanad district, her relatives claimed on Thursday.

In a complaint lodged with health department, they said the girl was being given blood transfusion every fortnight as she had been suffering from thalassaemia for the past six years.

The transfusion was done at a government hospital in Mananthavady and the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

Meanwhile, a test done last September confirmed her HIV positive, they said claiming that the blood transfusion was the cause of her being afflicted with the deadly virus. However, tests conducted on the girl’s parents and brother proved negative for HIV, they said, indicating that she had been administered blood of a HIV infected person.

The girl is admitted at the hospital here.

The relatives along with functionaries of a youth organisation met Dr PN Remani, additional director (vigilance) of the state health department, when he visited the hospital, and took the up the issue.

Remani said it would be unfortunate if the charge was true and assured that a team of medical experts would conduct a probe.