Six children have tested HIV positive in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district, allegedly after receiving contaminated blood transfusions at the district hospital during treatment for thalassaemia, according to media reports.
Officials said the affected children include five boys below the age of 11 and a nine-year-old girl, all of whom were undergoing regular blood transfusions at the hospital. The children reportedly tested positive between January and May 2025, but the issue has surfaced only now, leading the state government to order an inquiry.
Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla said he has sought a detailed report on the incident. “Only after the report is submitted will it be possible to share further details. It is also being examined whether the transfusions took place only at the government hospital or at other facilities as well,” he told reporters.
The exact source of the infection is yet to be established. The Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) said that, besides blood transfusions, the children may have contracted the infection through intravenous injections or the use of contaminated syringes.
