District officials from Unnao on Wednesday, 8 February, reportedly claimed that the migratory population and the "high-risk" behaviour could also be the reasons behind the spread of HIV in the region.
Over 58 people in Unnao district have been affected with the dreaded HIV over the last 10 months, allegedly by a quack Rajendra Kumar, who used the same syringe to administer injections. The fake doctor was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police on Wednesday, 7 February.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, District Magistrate NG Ravi said that the infected syringe may not be the only reason for the spread of the virus.
We have registered an FIR against the quack on the basis of what villagers told us, but we cannot overlook the fact that such fast spread of HIV infection over a year isn’t possible entirely due to the use of a single infected needle.
District Medical Officer SP Chowdary said that while the infected syringe used by the quack was a suspect, he claims that virus would not "survive in the needle for months". He also hinted at the possibility of wrongful accusation against Kumar.
According to the HT report, two migrant labours had admitted having paid for sex (without protection), when they were out for work.
Chowdary said that so far, 58 persons had been found infected with HIV in the Bangarmau area.
It was during a routine screening held from April to July that as many as 12 HIV positive cases were reported from Bangarmau tehsil alone. Then during another screening held in November 2017, another 13 cases were reported from the same place.
"In these camps, 566 people were examined, of whom 33 were found to be infected with HIV," he said.
The probe also found that a quack, Rajendra Kumar, living in a village in the area, had used a single syringe to administer injections.
(With inputs from Hindustan Times, PTI)
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