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Published on: May 30, 2013
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A pediatric HIV outbreak in Pakistan.
Joumana Hermez1, Maha Ismail1, Oliver Morgan2
1World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Cairo, Egypt.
Summary
Unsafe healthcare practices likely caused the 2019 HIV outbreak in Larkana, Pakistan, affecting over 700 children. Improved infection prevention and control measures are crucial, especially in pediatric and antenatal clinics.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- An outbreak of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was reported among children in Larkana District, Pakistan.
- An international team investigated the outbreak's extent and cause between April and June 2019.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of HIV among children in Larkana District.
- To describe the distribution of HIV cases by time, place, and person.
Main Methods:
- HIV testing was conducted on self-referred individuals using the national protocol.
- Epidemiological data were reviewed to generate hypotheses regarding HIV transmission.
- An infection prevention and control (IPC) team assessed healthcare practices.
Main Results:
- A total of 30,191 individuals were tested, with 876 testing positive for HIV.
- Of those positive, 719 (82%) were children under 15 years old.
- Unsafe medical injections were implicated, with 99% of affected children having received injections or infusions within the past year.
Conclusions:
- Unsafe healthcare practices in formal and informal settings are the most probable cause of the 2019 HIV outbreak.
- Enhanced infection prevention and control (IPC) measures are recommended.
- Specific focus on pediatric and antenatal care clinics is advised to improve patient safety.
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