Why is Pakistan’s Sindh province facing a major child HIV outbreak?
Summary
More than 130 people, mostly children, tested HIV-positive in an outbreak linked to a government hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Investigations found serious mistakes in infection control at the hospital, leading to the spread of HIV among patients.Key Facts
- The outbreak occurred at Kulsum Bai Valika (KBV) Hospital in Karachi, run by the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI).
- Over 10,500 people near the hospital were tested; 120 were found HIV-positive.
- A second nearby SESSI facility reported 10 additional HIV cases.
- The outbreak started around October 2025 but was noticed by the public in November 2025.
- Internal reports pointed to poor infection prevention, wrong use of protective gear, and mishandling of single-use syringes.
- Thirty-seven hospital staff received official notices and may face criminal charges or job loss.
- The government denies syringe reuse caused the outbreak, stating they use syringes that cannot be reused.
- Sindh has had previous big HIV outbreaks and is part of a region with one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
