Parents of children with thalassemia in India say they are devastated after life-saving blood transfusions left their children HIV-positive, confronting them with illness, social stigma, and uncertainty.
Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder that requires regular transfusions to manage severe anaemia and sustain life.
On Wednesday, authorities in central state of Madhya Pradesh reported that five children with thalassemia, aged three to 15, have tested positive for HIV, prompting serious concerns over blood transfusion practices. A committee has been formed to investigate the cases.
The affected families hail from Satna district. Although the infections were detected during routine screening between January and May 2025, they drew wider attention only after recent media coverage.
This alarming incident follows a similar occurrence in Jharkhand, where five children under eight also contracted HIV from blood transfusions at a state-run hospital.
HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, can be transmitted via unprotected sexual activities, unsafe medical practices, or infected blood transfusions. It requires lifelong management, with over 2.5 million people in India currently living with HIV.
Satna district collector Satish Kumar reported that the infected children had received blood transfusions at various locations, involving multiple donors, highlighting potential lapses in screening procedures.
Despite blood banks adhering to stringent testing protocols, cases like this raise disturbing questions about the safety of transfusion practices in the healthcare system, especially for high-risk patients like those with thalassemia.
The situation has left families deeply affected, as parents voice their woes about deteriorating healthcare quality and the added burden of stigma associated with an HIV diagnosis.
