At least 16 people have been infected with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) after contaminated blood was used for transfusions at a hospital in Bei'an County, Heilongjiang Province.

Investigations by the county court and other officials have so far revealed that at least five farm workers received contaminated blood between 1999 and 2004, and had subsequently suffered from a "mystery" disease.

Four others were infected by the original five with the "mysterious" disease.

China Daily learned yesterday that the "mystery" disease in question was HIV and that as many as 16 could have been infected.

A statement from the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Tuesday confirmed that nine victims "were infected" because they had received blood from a contaminated supply at Workers' Hospital, located on a construction farm.

"We have admitted 16 AIDS patients from the farm since last September," said a nurse in the infectious disease department of the hospital, affiliated with the Heilongjiang General Bureau of State Farms in Harbin.

"Nine patients are still hospitalized with us and their conditions are stable," the nurse said in a telephone interview.

A farm official with Bei'an Farm, who identified himself only as Li, said the victims are farm workers and peasants from around his farm. The hospital is their only medical resource.

Li confirmed that the Harbin hospital has been treating those patients, and that the farm had their medical expenses, about 1 million yuan (US$121,500) covered. The nurse has also confirmed this.

An official with the Bei'an Farm Court said it is still investigating the incident. He said he was not sure how much compensation each victim would receive.

The MOH said in the statement that some relevant officials within the Party have been disciplined and others are the subjects of ongoing criminal investigations.

(China Daily June 2, 2005)