Kerala: HIV Outbreak Among Drug Users In Valanchery, Nine Test Positive

Malappuram, Kerala: Ten individuals including three migrant workers in Malappuram’s Valanchery have been found to be HIV positive after a screening by Kerala’s AIDS Control Society on Thursday.

The screening, which was part of a routine check targeting high-risk groups such as sex workers and drug users, uncovered the alarming case.

Initially, one person tested positive, and upon tracing their close contacts, nine others, all part of the same drug-using group, were found to be infected with HIV.

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The health authorities suspect that the transmission occurred due to the sharing of syringes contaminated with the virus.

As a result, these individuals now face the challenge of receiving timely treatment to manage their condition. The discovery has raised concerns about the potential spread of HIV among drug users in the area, with health officials focusing on the urgent need to monitor and educate this vulnerable group.

Additionally, there are fears that the virus could spread further, particularly to the spouses of those diagnosed, many of whom are married.

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This incident adds to the growing issue in Kerala, where drug use is on the rise with over 500 reported cases in each district.

District Medical Officer (DMO) R. Renuka raised concerns about a possible rise in HIV cases among drug users, highlighting the increased risk this group faces in contracting and spreading the AIDS virus. Her worries stem from the discovery that all nine individuals diagnosed with HIV in Valanchery were drug users.

(With inputs from PTI)