Albania Confirms HIV Infected Cases Through Transfusion

Albania confirms HIV infected cases through transfusion

TIRANA, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) — Albanian ministry of health announced Friday that there had been four cases infected with HIV virus and several others with hepatitis C and B among the poly- transfused patients of thalassemia in the country. The commission of specialists, who were ordered to review the situation and functioning of the country’s blood collection and control system, ascertained that 2.1 percent of the patients had been infected, the Minister of Health Maksim Cikuli was quoted by the Albanian Telegraph Agency (ATA) as saying. “We are not dealing with an extraordinary situation, but the commission has observed that the blood donation practice has some defects, mainly on the functioning of the National Blood Committee, ” Cikuli said. According to the ATA, there are around 500 patients of thalassemia in Albania, most of whom need frequent blood transfusion, while the state blood reservation is insufficient at present.