Blood transfusions infect many Indians with HIV

By MiNDFOOD

Blood transfusions infect many Indians with HIV

More than 2000 Indians have contracted HIV while receiving blood transfusions in hospitals in the past 17 months, according to the country’s National Aids Control Organisation.

India has an estimated 2.09 million people living with HIV/Aids.  It is belived that up to three times as many people may have been infected through a blood transfusion than the NACO is aware of.

According to the BBC the state with the highest number of patients who had been infected with HIV as a result of contaminated blood in hospitals, were in Uttar Pradesh in the north.

The western state of Gujarat had 292 cases and Maharashtra 276.

It is believed cost is behind the extraordinarily high number of cases as each screening test for donated blood costs 1200 rupees. Many hospitals in India also do not have testing facilities.

Under law, it is mandatory for hospitals to screen donors and donated blood for HIV, hepatitis B and C, malaria and other infections.

 

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