Patel also denied a rise in the number of cases of HIV through blood transfusion, contrary to NACO data.
Separate RTI responses from 22 states and union territories confirmed that none of them have conducted any studies on HIV transmitted through blood transfusions.
The Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society completely denied having such cases within its purview: “In Karnataka, there are no reported cases of HIV being transmitted through blood transfusions. The blood banks in Karnataka are regularly inspected.”
But an RTI response from the NACO has revealed that Karnataka has reported 976 cases of HIV through blood transfusion in the last seven years, and 94 cases in 2015-16 alone.
Some states such as Chhattisgarh replied that “no study on HIV through blood transfusion has been conducted”, while others such as Jharkhand stated that “no such information is available”.
(Sourced from agencies, feature image courtesy:ibtimes.co.in)
