Five thalassemia-affected children test HIV-positive in Jharkhand, probe underway
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Four more children suffering from thalassemia in Jharkhand’s Chaibasa town have tested HIV-positive, bringing the total number of affected minors to five.
The findings came to light on Saturday following an investigation by a five-member medical team from Ranchi.
The development follows allegations by the family of a seven-year-old thalassemia patient that the local blood bank in Chaibasa had transfused HIV-infected blood. The incident prompted the Jharkhand government to form a probe team to determine how the child received contaminated blood.
Officials said around 25 units of blood had been transfused to the child since treatment began at the blood bank. However, District Civil Surgeon Dr. Sushanto Majhee stated that the child had tested HIV-positive over a week ago. He added that HIV infection could also result from other factors, including exposure to contaminated needles.
The inquiry team, led by Dr. Dinesh Kumar, Director of Health Services, Jharkhand, inspected the blood bank at Sadar Hospital and the pediatric intensive care unit. They also collected details from children currently undergoing treatment.
Dr. Kumar confirmed that some irregularities were discovered during the inspection. “Initial investigation indicates that contaminated blood was transfused to a thalassemia patient. Some discrepancies were detected in the blood bank during the probe, and the officials concerned have been directed to resolve them,” he said.
According to health data, West Singhbhum district currently has 515 HIV-positive cases and 56 thalassemia patients.
The probe team includes Dr. Shipra Das, Dr. S.S. Paswan, Dr. Bhagat, District Civil Surgeon Dr. Sushanto Majhee, Dr. Shivcharan Hansda, and Dr. Minu Kumari.