HIV risk for Irish children
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Medical authorities in Ireland have warned of a possible new blood contamination tragedy after telling the parents of 57 children that they may have received transfusions infected with HIV.
Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin, was one of two hospitals sent blood from a donor in 1990. Three years later the donor tested positive for HIV. At the time the Blood Transfusion Service Board checked with the other hospital given part of the donation, in Kilkenny, and found that the recipient who had been given red blood cells there had tested negative.
This year the Board again alerted the children's hospital, which has advised the parents to have their children tested. Dr William Murphy, the Board's director, said yesterday this was because it had learned that an infected donor could produce a "false" negative result from an HIV test during the three weeks after becoming infected, yet still transmit the virus.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments