In an unfortunate incident, 14 children who received blood transfusions were found to be infected with life-threatening Hepatitis B, C and HIV in India’s Northern Uttar Pradesh state, creating a backlash against the Government and media.
A Hindustan Times report, citing doctors, stated this Monday (Oct 23) that the children could have been infected with various diseases while receiving transfusions at private and district hospitals, and in some cases locally, during urgent cases. The 14 children
The children were given blood transfusion for thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder that result in abnormal hemoglobin levels. The 14 children received blood transfusions at various private and district hospitals, but the infections were revealed after tests were conducted at Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital in UP’s Kanpur. These children, aged between 6 and 16, come from diverse regions within the state, such as Kanpur City, Dehat, Farrukhabad, Auraiya, Etawah, and Kannauj. Among them, seven were found to be positive for Hepatitis B, five for Hepatitis C, and two for HIV. Currently, 180 Thalassemia patients receive blood transfusions at the centre, with each patient screened every six months for viral diseases. Expert on Preventive measures
Speaking to the media, Arun Arya, Head of the Pediatrics Department at the Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital in Kanpur said, “Seven of these children tested positive for Hepatitis B, five for Hepatitis C and two for HIV. The infected children are aged between 6 and 16.”
While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the infection, Arya said, “The blood transfusion may have taken place during the so-called “window period”.”
He further explains, “When someone donates blood, it is tested to make sure it is safe for transfusion. However, there is a period of time after someone was infected when the virus could not be detected by the tests, this time span is called window period.”
This means that during this window period, someone can be very infectious but still test negative for HIV or Hepatitis. Different types of tests have different window periods. He further mentioned that there is a period after infection during which the virus remains undetectable by tests.
He stressed, “During transfusion, doctors should have also administered Hepatitis B vaccinations to the children,” emphasizing the importance of this preventive measure.
Investigation on the origin of infection
A senior official from the Uttar Pradesh National Health Mission was quoted as saying that district-level authorities would investigate the source of the infection under the Viral Hepatitis Control Programme. Their mission is to identify the origin of both hepatitis and HIV infections.
Congress President slams BJP!
Today, on Wednesday, Indian National Congress President, Mallikarjun Kharge slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government on the platform X by showing his disappointment regarding the issue.
Terming the incident of infected blood being given to the children “shameful”, Kharge tweeted, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi was teaching big things about taking 10 resolutions, but has he ever fixed even an iota of accountability for his BJP government.
The post shouted, “The double engine government has made our health system doubly sick.”
He slammed the government hospital in Kanpur and accused, infected blood was given to 14 children suffering from thalassemia, due to which these children got serious diseases.
This serious negligence is shameful.
Innocent children are having to suffer the punishment for this unforgivable crime of the BJP government, he alleged. How citizens reacted
The netizens were outraged by the silence of the government over this issue.
An X user tweeted, “This news should be flashing on every channel but because it’s Yogi-Modi double engine sarkar, so the media is silent.”
While another stated, “It’s disheartening to see that there is no outrage in the mainstream media about the 14 kids who were infected with HIV and hepatitis in a UP hospital. This is an extremely serious matter that deserves urgent attention and accountability.” Many more on the social media platform expressed their prayers for the infected innocent kids and expected the government to take quick actions.
Sources: hindustan times
By , Sanjana Wagah