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| Peru blood banks face HIV crisis | Peru blood banks face HIV crisis |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Dozens of blood banks in Peru have been closed after at least four people were infected with the HIV virus through contaminated transfusions. | Dozens of blood banks in Peru have been closed after at least four people were infected with the HIV virus through contaminated transfusions. |
| The government said all 240 of the country's facilities would be thoroughly screened, amid what is being described as a national emergency. | The government said all 240 of the country's facilities would be thoroughly screened, amid what is being described as a national emergency. |
| The patients were all infected at a hospital in the port city of Callao. | The patients were all infected at a hospital in the port city of Callao. |
| Officials insisted Peru's blood banks met international standards and urged people to continue giving blood. | Officials insisted Peru's blood banks met international standards and urged people to continue giving blood. |
| "We do not want people to panic, what we have to do is be more careful, strengthen our care [of patients]," said Health Minister Carlos Vallejos. | "We do not want people to panic, what we have to do is be more careful, strengthen our care [of patients]," said Health Minister Carlos Vallejos. |
| Public alarm | Public alarm |
| The crisis was prompted after 44-year-old Judith Rivera contacted the media earlier this week to say she had been infected with HIV during a routine operation. | The crisis was prompted after 44-year-old Judith Rivera contacted the media earlier this week to say she had been infected with HIV during a routine operation. |
| Mrs Rivera, a mother of four, said she was taking legal action to claim compensation. | Mrs Rivera, a mother of four, said she was taking legal action to claim compensation. |
| "What is done is done, as they say, and a life has no price tag," she said during a news conference. | |
| Health officials later revealed that three other patients had been infected with the virus after having blood transfusions at the same hospital - one of them a child aged 11 months. | |
| The Washington-based Pan American Health Organization says its latest figures show that up to a quarter of the blood in Peru's banks is not properly screened. | |
| In a further blow to the health system, officials also confirmed that 30 patients who attended a dialysis treatment centre had been infected with Hepatitis C. | In a further blow to the health system, officials also confirmed that 30 patients who attended a dialysis treatment centre had been infected with Hepatitis C. |
| The BBC's Dan Collyns, in Lima, says Peruvians are alarmed and are avoiding public hospitals. | The BBC's Dan Collyns, in Lima, says Peruvians are alarmed and are avoiding public hospitals. |
| He says the government's response to the crisis is unlikely to restore public confidence in the country's flagging health service. | He says the government's response to the crisis is unlikely to restore public confidence in the country's flagging health service. |