Girl contracted HIV after blood transfer, say kin

An eight-year-old girl, suffering from thalassaemia, has been afflicted by HIV after blood transfusions at two government hospitals, including one 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 currently admitted at a local hospital.

The relatives along with members of a youth organisation met Dr P N Remani, Additional Director (Vigilance) of the state health department, when he visited the hospital, and took up the issue.

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