HIV Positive Alerts in Five Thalassemia Patients in Madhya Pradesh
Five thalassemia children in Madhya Pradesh tested HIV positive after transfusions, triggering an investigation and renewed calls for safer blood practices.
In India's central state of Madhya Pradesh, five children with thalassemia have tested HIV positive after blood transfusions, triggering a formal probe. The cases, detected during routine screening between January and May 2025, spotlight concerns about blood safety across hospitals and clinics.
What happened
Five children aged 3 to 15 from Satna district received transfusions at multiple facilities — including government hospitals and private clinics — with donors from different pools. Health officials say the infections were detected during routine HIV screening between January and May 2025, and a special committee has been formed to investigate the circumstances.
In one case, both parents of a three-year-old are HIV positive; in the other cases, the parents tested negative, making mother-to-child transmission unlikely in those instances.
HIV can be transmitted through infected blood, and transfusion safety relies on screening every donated unit. While blood units are tested before use, rare cases occur when early-stage infections slip through initial screens.
Satna's chief medical and health officer, Manoj Shukla, noted that children who require multiple transfusions are considered high-risk and routinely screened for HIV. He added that the district blood bank tests every unit before release, but testing gaps, though uncommon, are possible.
Context and previous incidents
Similar cases emerged earlier in Jharkhand, where five children under eight who received transfusions at a state hospital also tested HIV positive. In Jharkhand, officials suspended a lab assistant, the physician heading the HIV unit, and the chief surgeon while investigations continued. The state government announced compensation of about £1,655 per affected family (roughly 2,00,000 rupees).
In a broader historical context, Gujarat authorities in 2011 investigated after 23 thalassemia patients tested HIV following transfusions at a public hospital, prompting reforms in how blood is collected and screened.
Legislation and advocacy
Last week, patients and advocates urged India's Parliament to pass the National Blood Transfusion Bill 2025 to strengthen regulation of blood collection, testing, and transfusion. Supporters say the bill would bring much-needed safety standards for people who rely on frequent transfusions.
Impact on families and stigma
For families in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, the health crisis is coupled with social stigma and limited access to care, especially in rural areas. A father described discrimination after his child's HIV status became known, while others spoke of challenges securing health services and education for their children in smaller towns.
Expert opinion
Health experts say the incidents highlight gaps in infection screening and donor tracing across blood transfusion services. They call for tougher standards, full donor tracing, and ongoing quality monitoring to prevent future transmissions.
Summary
The Madhya Pradesh cases, together with the Jharkhand episode, underline the ongoing need for safer blood transfusion practices in India. Investigations are underway, accountability is being pursued, and reforms in regulation and oversight are being discussed to protect patients who depend on regular transfusions.
Key insight: Safe blood transfusion practices are essential for vulnerable patients like children with thalassemia; ongoing investigations and policy reforms aim to prevent transmissions. BBC News
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