The government of Pakistan has sought international help after more than 700 people, with the majority being children, was tested positive for HIV in the southern town of Ratodero. The outbreak of this epidemic was thought to have been spread through reused syringes used mostly by practitioners who were not qualified.
"As part of key tasks, a WHO-led team will determine the factors behind the outbreak and suggest control measures," said Pakistan's Minister for Health, Zafar Mirza. "They will provide technical expertise in the areas of HIV testing, pediatric HIV treatment, and family counseling."
Mirza said that the team, who reached Ratodero on May 31, would ensure there are enough supplies of rapid diagnostic tests and antiretroviral medicines for adults and children. They will also look into the availability of single-use needles and syringes especially as initial investigations into the outbreak have pointed out that the reason behind it is the use of repackaged syringes.
As of May 31st, 2019, mass screenings in Ratodero indicate around 728 people tested positive for HIV. Five hundred and ninety-five of them were children. Around 70% were aged between two years and five years, according to the Pakistani National AIDS Control Programme officials.
The incident is believed to be the first HIV outbreak in the world where the majority of those who are affected are children. Seventy-three women also tested positive for HIV. Oliver Morgan, director of health emergency information and risk assessment at the Health Emergencies Programme of WHO, is leading the 12-member international investigation team. The team is comprised of health experts from the US-based Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, UNAIDS, UNICEF, and the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network.
The delegation will try to trace the origin of the HIV infection and identify the exact source before the infection spreads further. It will also provide pediatric HIV treatment and family counseling for those who are infected. Provincial and federal health officials say that unqualified practitioners in the rural parts of the country are behind the reuses of syringes.
The Pakistani National AIDS Control Programme Manager Abdul Baseer Khan Achakzai said, "Initial official investigations conducted by our organization in collaboration with provincial and federal health departments point towards the reuse of infected syringes in the area and also unscreened blood transfusions. [Other reasons] could be poor infection prevention and unprotected sex."
According to the Pakistani National AIDS Control Programme, Pakistan already has 1,65,000 people with HIV, but only around 25,000 are registered with national and provincial HIV programs. Pakistan has seen the virus resurfacing rapidly among sex workers and intravenous drug users in recent years. In UNAIDS 2018 report, Pakistan has among the fastest rates of HIV spread in the Asia Pacific region with 20,000 new infections reported in 2017.
