Uttarakhand HIV outbreak: Teen Girl Infects 19 People with HIV 

A horrific case has emerged from Nainital district of Uttarakhand, where within five months, 19 persons have been found HIV-infected. Reportedly, most of the victims contacted the virus after touching a teenage girl suspected of being HIV-positive.

Uttarakhand HIV Outbreak: 19 Infected Linked to Teen, Health Dept Alert

Health Department is worried that many others whom she has had sexual relationships with may also have become infected. Some of the infected husbands have also come up, raising very serious public health problems. Since April 2023, 19 fresh cases of HIV have cropped up in Ramnagar. CMO Nainital Dr Harish Pant said that in the past four years, 75 cases of HIV have surfaced in the district. However, with such a growth this year, the Health Department is on its alert and has strengthened the watch and interventions in its wing. Counseling and treatment sessions have been given to all the HIV positive individuals detected. Investigations show that most cases are young men. These reports indicate that most such individuals had contact with a teenage girl, who is said to be a drug addict. It is believed that they were drawn into her company because of shared drug use, which spread the virus. Following symptoms of the disease, they followed it up and realized they tested positive for HIV. Stupefied at the diagnoses, most have gone for counseling. In those sessions of counsel, came out one's name in question-and-answer session the girl; so her connection with other spreaders in this category was revealed to them.

  As a matter of fact, the Health Department has since started testing all those who might have come in contact with the cases because some of them are married and whose wives, subsequently became positive.

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All HIV-positive patients are free medication to prevent the spread, while the Health Department is holding awareness seminars and camps for the community on the disease, how it is transmitted, safe practices, and support for the infected in total confidentiality.