JAZAN — A contaminated blood transfusion has killed a child at Jazan's King Fahd Central Hospital. The victim, identified as Hanan, is the second to be affected by a tainted transfusion in Jazan in less than a month. Thirteen-year-old Reham Al-Hakami received blood from a donor who was HIV positive at Jazan General Hospital. Hanan suffered from sickle cell anemia and was receiving monthly blood transfusions. Two days after the last transfusion, she started suffering from abdominal pains, fever and a shortage of oxygen. She was admitted to intensive care because a virus was discovered in the blood she had received. Her condition worsened by the day until she died. Her death certificate states that the death occurred due to a virus in the blood. Hanan's family said they would lodge a complaint with the Jazan governorate and appoint an attorney to sue the Ministry of Health. Another citizen at the same hospital fell into a coma after he received a transfusion of the wrong blood type. He was transferred to an isolation room. A relative of the patient claimed doctors were not sure of the man's blood type. They asked for O+ blood before asking for O-. The patient was involved in a car accident and suffered from fractures in his leg and jaw. He was not operated on until now and his situation is worsening, the relative said. Spokesman for Jazan Health Affairs Mohammad Al-Semaili said the patient's family has contacted the directorate. The directorate consulted with a hospital specialist, who said the bacteria that the patient was exposed to was normal. Al-Semaili said the directorate has contacted the hospital to find out why the patient was transferred to an isolation room, but is still awaiting a reply. The Jazan Health Affairs is conducting a wide investigation into repeated medical mistakes at King Fahd Central Hospital.
