ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Mirpurkhas, a district in Sindh, is becoming a new hotspot for HIV, especially among children, with 150 cases reported in 2024. The district now accounts for over 26% of the 568 pediatric HIV cases in Sindh, sparking concerns about an ongoing health crisis. On average, 48 children are diagnosed with HIV every month in the province.
Experts point to unsafe medical practices, such as the reuse of syringes by unqualified practitioners, as the main cause of transmission. In many cases, parents and siblings of infected children test negative, highlighting the role of poor infection control practices in spreading the virus.
Karachi remains the hardest-hit urban area, with 969 new HIV cases in 2024. Health officials warn that if immediate measures aren’t taken, Mirpurkhas could face an outbreak similar to the 2019 Larkana crisis, where over 900 children were infected due to unsafe injections. Public health experts call for more widespread screening, stricter regulations, and better infection control in the region to prevent further spread.
