Daijiworld Media Network – Punjab

Punjab, Apr 15: At least 331 children in Pakistan’s Punjab province contracted HIV between November 2024 and October 2025 in a suspected healthcare-linked outbreak, raising serious concerns over infection control practices.

An investigation by BBC revealed unsafe injection methods at the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital in Taunsa, where syringes were allegedly reused on medicine vials, increasing the risk of contamination and transmission.

According to the findings, syringes were reused multiple times on multi-dose vials, with medication from the same vial administered to different children. Health data indicated that in over half of the 331 cases, contaminated needles were cited as the likely cause of infection.

In a sample analysis of 97 affected children, only four mothers tested HIV-positive, suggesting the infections were not primarily due to mother-to-child transmission but rather linked to external factors such as unsafe medical practices.

The outbreak first came to light in late 2024 after a local doctor noticed an unusual surge in paediatric HIV cases, many of whom had reportedly received treatment at the same hospital.

Despite a government crackdown in March 2025 and the suspension of the hospital’s medical superintendent, the investigation found that unsafe practices continued months later. Footage reportedly showed staff administering injections without gloves, mishandling medical waste, and leaving used equipment in non-sterile conditions.

Hospital authorities have denied the allegations, describing the footage as staged or outdated. Local government officials also stated that there is no conclusive evidence directly linking the facility to the outbreak.

However, health experts warn that excessive reliance on injections, combined with supply shortages and inadequate training, may be contributing to unsafe practices. The incident echoes previous outbreaks in Pakistan where lapses in medical procedures have led to the spread of infectious diseases.