Police in Canada are opening an investigation into contaminated blood supplies, which left more than 60,000 Canadians with hepatitis or the HIV virus during the 1980s.

About 2,000 people were infected with HIV, which can lead to AIDS, between 1980 and 1985, and more than 60,000 people contracted hepatitis C.

A report by a public inquiry, released in November, heavily criticised the Canadian Red Cross for failing to respond to risks which other blood agencies were already dealing with.

The report also criticised the lack of leadership by the government, and said a general reluctance by all those involved to take preventative measures had led to a national disaster.

The investigation, by Judge Horace Krever, took more than four years to complete.

Although the Canadian Red Cross have taken much of the blame, and been stripped of their role as Canada's blood distribution agency, police will also examine the role of pharmaceutical companies and the federal government.

Corporal Gilles Moreau, a spokesman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said they would take at least three months to assess if there is enough evidence to mount a full scale criminal investigation.

It could be several months before any criminal charges were brought, he added.
 

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