Pakistan Police Arrest Doctor After ‘Infecting’ 90 Persons With HIV Syringe.

At least 90 people, including 65 children, are believed to have
been infected with the HIV virus in Pakistan by a doctor using a
contaminated syringe, officials said Friday.

“We have arrested a doctor after receiving complaints from the
health authorities,” said Kamran Nawaz, the local police chief
heading the case in the southern city of Larkana.

“We are told that the doctor also has HIV,” he said.

Authorities were first alerted last week after 18 children from
a town on the outskirts of the city tested positive for the virus,
which causes AIDS, prompting health officials to carry out wider
screenings.

Dozens more infections were found.

“More than 90 people have tested HIV positive and the number of
children is around 65,” Dr Abdul Rehaman, a district health
official in Larkana, told AFP.

A second official confirmed the outbreak, although gave slightly
different figures.

Authorities said they traced the outbreak to a single doctor,
who appears to have been using a contaminated syringe on
patients.

Azra Pechuho, Sindh province’s health minister, confirmed his
arrest.

“The blood of the parents of the infected children was also
tested, but their results were negative,” Pechuho added.

Officials have since launched an even larger testing and
education drive.

Pakistan is considered a low prevalence country for HIV, but the
disease is expanding — mostly among intravenous drug users, sex
workers and migrant labourers returning from the Gulf.

AFP

Subscribe ToNairalaw News!