The Public Health Ministry will provide free medical treatment and other assistance for a fouryearold twin reportedly infected with HIV as a result of receiving donated blood at a state hospital.

An investigation is under way.

"We will take responsibility," Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said yesterday.

He said the youngster would, at very least, receive free medical treatment for life.

"This child should also get other forms of assistance," Witthaya added.

According to Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Prat Boonyawongviroj, the twin weighed just 1.35 kilograms when born at Yala Hospital.

"Suffering from asthma, the child has received regular treatment at the hospital and was given blood on several occasions," Prat said.

Yala Hospital director Dr Kuldej Techaparak said the blood given to the youngster had passed the standard test prescribed by the Thai Red Cross Society.

However, he said the risk of receiving infected blood existed, even though donated blood had passed the standard procedure.

"There's always a window period of at least 12 days," Kuldej said, referring to the time from HIV infection until a test can detect any change in a donor's blood.

Kuldej said such a risk existed at all hospitals, and the fouryearold's mother understood the situation.

"We will meet and talk again on Monday," the hospital director added.