KOZHIKODE: In a shocking incident, 10 persons who allegedly shared syringes for drug abuse were found to be HIV-positive at Valanchery in Malappuram. Three of them are migrant workers.
10 drug users who shared syringes test +ve
District medical officer Dr R Renuka said it was during the screening of persons in high-risk groups, like sex workers and drug users, by the Kerala AIDS Control Society that one person tested positive for the virus.
On a suspicion about the possibility of virus spread, details were obtained from him about those who shared syringes with him. As many as 15 contacts of the person were tested, and nine of them tested positive for HIV.
It is for the first time in the state that such a large number of HIV-positive cases belonging to a group has been reported. The state is already facing an intensified police drive against drug abuse, and the development has brought up a fresh challenge to authorities.
The DMO said the tests were conducted over the last two months.
Screening to intensify among high-risk groups
It is believed that the sharing of the syringe used by the HIV-positive person led to the spread,” she said.
Authorities are trying to find out if there were others in the group and whether they are infected. “Our goal is to ensure that all of them receive the requisite treatment on time,” the DMO said.
Valanchery municipality chairman Ashraf Ambalthingal said the infection was revealed when a sample of a person who was taken into custody was screened for HIV.
Health authorities are planning to intensify the screening among high-risk categories in the coming days.
