Volume 30, Issue 1, 2021
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.2093
Emerging Scenario of Criminal Transmission of HIV: An Outbreak of 900+ positive cases
Abstract
HIV has been one of the most important global challenges affecting over 40 million individuals. At this moment Pakistan being the second largest HIV carrier country in South Asia seems to reflect much less prevalence rate in the region, perhaps mainly due to under-reporting. The current study investigates the prevalence of HIV/AIDS outbreaks in Pakistan during last 10 years and in particular its impact on recent cluster of cases appeared in district Larkana of Pakistan. The last ten years data is reviewed to find HIV trend in Pakistan and particularly in District Larkana. Data shows that only 16% of HIV suspects have been tested and only 9% have access to life saving drugs. The remaining
are carriers of HIV infections to uninfected and unborn babies. An abnormal increase has been found in 15+ years age group followed by less than 14 years of age children. Larkana District in Pakistan is considered as one of the high risk area and having highest number
of register HIV cases i.e. 2016 and 2019. This recent outbreak happened in April-May 2019 where 900 individuals including 75% children were found with positive HIV. To investigate sever HIV incident in Larkana-Pakistan, a special health care center was set up by AIDS Control Program in Tehsil Ratodhero of District Larkana, Sindh Province, Pakistan. More than 10,000 children and their parents were screened extensively. Sample collection, handling, testing and transportation was provided independently by the National AIDS
control program Referral Lab as per CDC guidelines. The initial investigation confirmed three scenarios reported which might have caused the outbreak. Firstly, through reused needles, secondly, infected transfusions, which are more commonly known transmission
routes confirming the dysfunctional healthcare situation in the country. Thirdly, where the paediatrician, who himself was HIV positive, was arrested for allegedly perpetrating the biocrime of intentionally spreading the HIV among his patients by using contaminated needles repeatedly. The doctor is under judicial trial under Criminal Transmission of HIV. What causes the severe outbreak of HIV is a question mark for health department and HIV/AIDS control program stakeholders. This outbreak gives a lesson that a small
negligence or a bad intention of doctors can ending the happiness in many lives. The government should create a moral ethic program for doctors and paramedic stop to avoid such criminal negligence in future. Further details, causes and some policy implications
particularly in context of Pakistan has been discussed in the conclusion section of this study.
Keywords
HIV/AIDS, Outbreak, Disposable Syringes; Criminal Transmission; Pakistan