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Five children in Madhya Pradesh test positive for HIV after transfusions
Parents of children with thalassemia in central India are reeling after five minors, aged three to 15, contracted HIV through contaminated blood transfusions, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The cases, detected between January and May 2025, have raised alarm over blood safety protocols in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
Investigation launched amid growing concerns
A committee has been formed to probe the infections, which occurred in Satna district. Officials revealed the children received transfusions at multiple healthcare facilities, including government hospitals and private clinics. While all blood units were reportedly screened before use, health authorities acknowledged rare instances where early-stage HIV in donors may evade detection.
Satna's chief medical officer, Manoj Shukla, stated the children are now stable and receiving treatment. However, parents expressed devastation over the dual burden of thalassemia and HIV, compounded by social stigma.
Pattern of negligence emerges across states
The Madhya Pradesh cases echo a recent incident in Jharkhand, where five thalassemia patients under eight contracted HIV after transfusions at a state-run hospital. Following the Jharkhand outbreak, authorities suspended three staff members and announced financial aid of ₹200,000 ($2,212) per affected family.
Similar lapses have surfaced before. In 2011, Gujarat investigated 23 HIV infections among thalassemia patients linked to transfusions at a public hospital. Advocates argue such recurring incidents highlight systemic gaps in India's blood transfusion infrastructure.
Families face health and social crises
For parents, the diagnosis has triggered a cascade of challenges. One father in Satna lamented, "My daughter was already suffering from thalassemia. Now she has HIV, all thanks to the pathetic medical facilities." Another parent reported their child enduring severe side effects from HIV medication, including persistent vomiting and fatigue.
Stigma remains pervasive. In Jharkhand, a seven-year-old's family was evicted after the landlord discovered the child's HIV status. "I had to return to my village, where healthcare and education are inadequate," the boy's father told the BBC.
Calls for stricter regulations grow
Thalassemia patients and activists are urging Parliament to pass the National Blood Transfusion Bill 2025, which aims to enforce stricter oversight of blood collection, testing, and distribution. Campaigners, including survivors of transfusion-related HIV infections, describe the bill as a critical step toward ensuring safe blood supplies for India's 2.5 million HIV-positive population.
With over 66,400 new HIV infections reported annually, India's healthcare system faces mounting pressure to address preventable transmission risks, particularly for vulnerable groups reliant on frequent transfusions.
