#BreakingNews: 7,400 HIV Cases in Bihar District, 400 Children Infected
Bihar's Sitamarhi reports 7,400 HIV cases including 400+ children amid low awareness.
Sitamarhi district in Bihar is grappling with a significant rise in HIV infections, putting immense pressure on local healthcare systems. According to the ART Centre at the district hospital, nearly 7,400 HIV-positive cases have been registered, including over 400 children who contracted the virus from their parents. Medical officials describe the situation as deeply concerning.
Health experts note that the high number of infected children is primarily linked to families where one or both parents are HIV-positive, leading to transmission at birth. Low public awareness and limited understanding of HIV transmission remain major challenges, despite repeated awareness campaigns.
Dr. Haseen Akhtar, a medical officer at the ART Centre, highlighted that between 40 and 60 new cases are reported each month. The centre currently provides medication to around 5,000 patients, marking Sitamarhi as a high-load HIV hub in Bihar. Officials say social factors, such as marriages without health verification and long-term labor migration, contribute significantly to the rising infections.
The district administration has ramped up preventive measures, including community outreach programs and planned HIV testing camps in local villages. Health teams are also working to educate residents on safe sexual practices, dangers of contaminated needles, and the importance of regular HIV testing.
Experts warn that without expanded public education and proactive testing, the infection rate in Sitamarhi could continue to rise. They urge families and communities to actively participate in awareness programs and seek early testing to curb further spread of HIV.
The rising cases serve as a wake-up call for Bihar’s wider public health authorities to strengthen HIV prevention initiatives and support affected families, particularly children, in high-risk districts like Sitamarhi.
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