How did contaminated blood transfusions cause “about 1,820 deaths” in Britain?

How did contaminated blood transfusions cause “about 1,820 deaths” in Britain?

In what has been described as the worst treatment disaster in NHS history, a regular batch of injections was given to treat the blood-clotting disorder hemophilia in the 1970s and 1980s.

 At least 3,650 patients in that group contracted HIV, hepatitis C, or both. It is believed that more than 1,500 people died as a result.

 A second group was exposed to hepatitis C through a transfusion of blood donated at surgery or at birth.

 Hepatitis C primarily affects the liver and, if left untreated, can lead to cirrhosis or cancer and may require a complete liver transplant.

 It is sometimes known as the “silent killer” because most people with the disease don’t realize they have it until symptoms develop decades later.

 British founder of the Body Shop chain Anita Roddick died in 2007 of cerebral hemorrhage – a rare complication of hepatitis C, which she said she contracted after receiving contaminated blood during the birth of her daughter in 1971.

 Because of the long period between infection and symptoms, it is difficult to know how many people were infected through blood transfusions in the 1970s and 1980s.

 A simulation as part of the public inquiry estimated that between 21,300 and 38,800 people became infected after transfusions between 1970 and 1991.

 According to the study, conducted by a group of ten academics, commissioned by those responsible for the public inquiry, 1,820 of those died as a result, although the number may be as high as 3,320.

 The results were based on the rate of hepatitis C infection in the population, the number of blood donations performed during that time, the disease survival rate and other factors.