7,400 HIV Cases In Bihar Sitamarhi, Over 400 Children Affected
Sitamarhi district in Bihar reports over 7,400 registered HIV-positive cases, with more than 400 children affected, mainly through parent-to-child transmission at birth.
The ART Centre at Sadar Hospital tracks around 5,000 active patients receiving free medication, adding 40-60 new cases monthly. Among infections, 3,544 women and 2,733 men are documented, with hotspots in blocks like Dumra, Runnisaidpur, and Parihar.
Low awareness, lack of pre-marriage health checks, labor migration, social stigma against testing, and gaps in pregnant women’s screening drive the surge. Unsafe practices like shared needles or transfusions contribute, though not casual contact like coughing.
Health officials classify Sitamarhi as a high-load HIV center and plan village testing camps plus outreach campaigns to boost detection and prevention. This strains local resources but prompts targeted interventions.
