Officials from the World Health Organisation have started a nationwide inspection of blood banks in Peru after four people were infected with HIV from blood transfusions at a public hospital.
The infection scare has already forced 40 blood banks to shut down.
All of Peru's 250 blood banks are being thoroughly screened as the health scare causes widespread scenes of panic.
The crisis became public after a 44-year-old mother of four announced she would take legal action after being infected with HIV during a routine operation.
Authorities later revealed that three other patients had also been infected, including an 11-month old child.
It was also confirmed that 30 patients who attended a dialysis clinic had been infected with Hepatitis C.
According to the Pan American Health Organisation, about a quarter of the blood in Peruvian banks is not properly screened. © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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