PETALING JAYA: The case of a 56-year-old kidney patient suspected to have contracted HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) via blood transfusion took a twist as all the donors have been confirmed HIV-free.
Perak Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said all the eight donors involved were “tested and confirmed HIV-negative”.
He said housewife Vun Ah Thai is currently undergoing treatment at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh.
She had received 18 pints of blood from the donors through several blood transfusions since January.
Dr Mah said the state Health Department would get to the bottom of the case, pointing out that there were several possibilities of how she could have contracted HIV, including through blood transfusions and dialysis.
“An expert committee comprising various government specialists and state Health Department officers has been set up to investigate the case and identify the source of infection” he told The Star yesterday.
On Aug 15, Vun tested positive for HIV at the University Malaya Medical Centre where she was scheduled to undergo minor surgery.
Her family subsequently demanded an explanation from the Teluk Intan Hospital as to how she had contracted the virus.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry said it needed two weeks to identify the cause of HIV infection in Vun.
“We don't know for now and we don't want to speculate,” Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said yesterday.
He said as a haemodialysis patient, Vun would have gone through several medical procedures which they had to look into.
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