Over 19 men contract HIV after sexual relations with minor
Over 19 young men from Nainital, Uttarakhand have tested positive for HIV after having sexual relations with a 17-year-old girl. According to The New Indian Express, the minor is addicted to heroin and had sexual relations to fund her addiction. The outbreak was discovered when the youths started experiencing health issues and approached Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) at Ramdatt Joshi Joint Hospital.
Health officials express concern over sudden HIV spike
Tests at the ICTC confirmed their HIV diagnoses, prompting an investigation which found a common link among the cases. Nainital's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Harish Chandra Pant said he was concerned over this sudden spike in HIV cases. He said usually around 20 cases are detected every year, but in just five months this year, 19 new cases have emerged. "This is a wake-up call for our community," Dr. Pant said.
Counseling reveals youths' unawareness of girl's HIV status
Counseling sessions revealed the young men had no idea about the girl's addiction and her HIV status. "These young men had no idea they were exposed to HIV through the same 17-year-old girl," a counselor explained. The girl carried on these relationships to fund her addiction, the counselor added. "What's even more disturbing is that several of these individuals were married, and their spouses have also contracted the disease," a medical officer said.
