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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
UP: BJP MLA falls on rail track while flagging off Vande Bharat train
Etawah (UP), Sep 16: BJP's Etawah MLA Sarita Bhadauriya fell onto the railway tracks while vying to wave the green flag for the Agra-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express here on Monday.
Purported videos of the incident surfaced on social media.
The incident occurred amidst a crowded platform as the train arrived around 6 pm. The 61-year-old second-term BJP lawmaker was among a host of people holding the green flag as they stood at the platform, the video showed.
Following the virtual inauguration of the Vande Bharat train by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the train, numbered 20175, was flagged off by the Rail Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu from Agra.
When contacted by PTI, BJP's Etawah unit treasurer Sanjeev Bhadauriya said, "The MLA was helped off the track and she then waited for some time at the platform for the flag-off event."
"Later she consulted doctors and is resting at her home now. She did not suffer any visible physical injuries. If there is any internal injury, it is yet to be confirmed," Bhadauriya said.
The train made stops at Tundla before arriving at Etawah station. Upon its arrival, a commotion ensued on the platform as various political figures, including Samajwadi Party MP Jitendra Douwhare, former BJP MP Ram Shankar, and current MLA Sarita Bhadauriya, gathered to participate in the flag-off, the videos showed.
As the train's horn signalled its departure, the platform became chaotic with supporters jostling for position. In the ensuing melee, the MLA was pushed off the platform and she fell onto the railway tracks in front of the train, it showed.
The train was stopped in time by bystanders, preventing a major accident. Bhadauriya was quickly rescued from the tracks by the police and taken to the hospital, according to eyewitnesses.
Talking about the operation date for the Vande Bharat Express, PRO Prashasti Srivastava from the Agra division of the railways said that the date will be announced soon.
The train will cover the distance between Agra and Varanasi in approximately seven hours. The return train will operate as number 20176 from Varanasi to Agra, while the Agra-Varanasi service will be number 20175.
Etawah, UP: The flag-off ceremony for the Agra-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express faced chaos due to heavy rush, and BJP's Etawah Sadar MLA, Sarita Bhadoria, fell in front of the train pic.twitter.com/p10CfbDIF0
— IANS (@ians_india) September 16, 2024
