Strasbourg, January 14 - The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg said Thursday that it has ruled Italy must pay compensation to over 800 people who contracted various viruses (HIV, hepatitis B and C) after transfusions of infected blood during treatment or surgery. The total compensation, due to the Italian nationals who were born between 1921 and 1993 and live in Italy and Australia, amounts to 20 million euros. "They are or were entitled to administrative compensation, provided for by law, since the causal link between the transfusion of infected blood and their contamination has been proved," the court said.