14 children contract Hepatitis, HIV infections during blood transfusions in UP hospital
Kanpur: In a concerning incident, fourteen children undergoing blood transfusions for Thalassemia at the government-run Lala Lajpat Rai (LLR) Hospital in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, have tested positive for infections including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV, according to doctors. The incident has raised alarm among medical professionals, as the minors now face heightened health risks in addition to their existing Thalassemia condition.
Dr. Arun Arya, the head of the paediatrics department at LLR Hospital and the nodal officer for the centre, expressed concern over the situation, highlighting the inherent risks associated with blood transfusions. He indicated that ineffective tests for viruses on donated blood might be the cause of the infections.
Currently, 180 Thalassemia patients receive blood transfusions at the centre, with each patient screened every six months for viral diseases. The 14 affected children had received blood transfusions at private and district hospitals, and in some cases, locally, when urgent medical intervention was necessary.
Dr. Arya emphasized that the blood transfusions had taken place during the "window period," a period after someone is infected when the virus may not be detected by standard tests. He noted that doctors should have vaccinated the children against Hepatitis B at the time of transfusion.
Among the infected children, seven tested positive for Hepatitis B, five for Hepatitis C, and two for HIV. The children, aged between 6 and 16, hail from different parts of the state, including Kanpur City, Dehat, Farrukhabad, Auraiya, Etawah, and Kannauj.
District-level officials are investigating the source of the infections under the Viral Hepatitis Control Programme. The team is tasked with tracing the origin of the infections, both for Hepatitis and HIV, ensuring a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding this concerning incident.
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Sanjay Leela Bhansali absolutely fine: family
Mumbai (PTI): Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali is doing "absolutely fine", his family said Wednesday after media reports said he was hospitalised after suffering a heart attack.
The family did not confirm or refer to the heart attack, but said he had gone to the hospital for a routine medical check up.
"Mr. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is doing absolutely fine. He has gone in for a routine medical check-up and there is no cause for concern. We sincerely appreciate the love, care, and concern shown by everyone. Thank you for your continued support and warm wishes."
A segment of the media said Bhansali suffered a heart attack on his 63rd birthday on Tuesday and was rushed to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital.
The filmmaker, known for big scale dramas such as "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam", "Devdas", "Bajirao Mastani" and OTT series "Heeramandi", is currently working on his next theatrical, "Love and War".
It is a period romance starring Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal.
