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 said five children with thalassemia, aged three to 15, have tested positive for HIV, prompting concerns over blood transfusion practices. A committee has been set up to investigate the cases.
The families are from Satna district. Although the infections were detected during routine screening between January and May 2025, they drew wider attention after local media reports earlier this week.
The cases follow a similar incident in the eastern state of Jharkhand weeks earlier, where five children with thalassemia, all under eight, were found to have contracted HIV after blood transfusions at a state-run hospital.
HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, spreads through unprotected sex, unsafe medical practices, infected blood transfusions, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
While no longer a death sentence, it requires lifelong management. In India, more than 2.5 million people live with HIV, with about 66,400 new infections each year. Over 1.6 million are on lifelong treatment at antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres, government data shows.
Satna district collector Satish Kumar S said the five children had received blood transfusions at different locations, involving multiple donors.
Health officials said these included government hospitals and private clinics, and that all the children are now receiving treatment.
In one case, both parents of a three-year-old were HIV positive, while in others, the parents tested negative, ruling out mother-to-child transmission.
Satna's chief medical and health officer Manoj Shukla said children with multiple transfusions are considered high-risk and are routinely screened for HIV.
Once detected, treatment was started immediately and is continuing. At present, the children are stable, he said.
Every unit of blood issued by the district hospital's blood bank is tested according to government protocol and released only after a negative report, Dr. Shukla states. However, rare cases of early-stage infections may go undetected, potentially leading to such tragic outcomes.
Cases of thalassemia patients contracting HIV during treatment are not new in India. In October, similar incidents in Jharkhand led to significant administrative actions, including suspensions of healthcare staff involved.
In 2011, authorities in Gujarat investigated after 23 children with thalassemia tested positive for HIV following regular blood transfusions at a public hospital.
Last week, thalassemia patients urged lawmakers in India to pass the National Blood Transfusion Bill 2025, emphasizing the need for stronger regulations to ensure safe blood practices.
Families of the affected children express profound distress over their uncertain futures, particularly amidst the social stigma attached to HIV in India.
