China is punishing Jilin Province officials linked to the sale of HIV-tainted blood that has infected others in a widening circle of sickness and death.
Six top health officials in Dehui, Jilin Province, have been stripped of their posts or placed on probation within the Party after one man's HIV-tainted blood infected 21 others.
The man had sold - or "donated" - blood 15 times over a year and a half, infecting some recipients. Others were infected by sexual intercourse, said officials in Changchun, the provincial capital.
The six responsible officials who were penalized in the incident are the director and deputy director of the health bureau of Dehui City, the acting leader, plus the former leader of the medical policy section, president and vice president of Dehui Hospital.
The six were held accountable for the spread of infection.
According to a report by the Health Bureau of Changchun, The 41-year-old man, identified as Song, unknowingly was infected by the HIV virus. He made 15 blood donations to the Central Blood Bank of Dehui between January 2003 and June 2004.
The HIV virus had not been detected in Song's donated blood.
One investigation with Dehui City Hospital suggests that 25 patients received blood donated by Song. Further investigations showed that Song has infected 21 others via blood transmission or sexual intercourse.
Eighteen of Song's blood recipients have been clinically diagnosed to have been infected with the HIV virus - three of whom developed AIDS and died.
Song's two sex partners, as well as one of the two sex partners' spouses, has also been diagnosed with the HIV virus, said the city health report.
After the cases were reported, health departments of Jilin Province organized strict investigations and measures to prevent spread of the disease.
Recipients of Song's blood have been informed of possible HIV infection. The state has adopted preferential policies toward the victims.
In the meantime, relevant departments have also traced 45 more people who have had intimate contacts with recipients who used Song's blood. But the HIV antiviral tests have all showed negative.
Thirty-seven others who made blood donations at the same time as Song underwent HIV antiviral tests; the results were negative.
(Xinhua)