Sitamarhi Faces Severe HIV Surge: Over 7,000 Patients Registered as Rising Childhood Infections Alarm Health Officials

Patna: Bihar’s Sitamarhi district is witnessing a sharp escalation in HIV cases, with health authorities warning that the region is fast turning into one of the state’s highest-burden zones. Data compiled by the district’s ART Centre reveals that nearly 7,400 individuals are currently registered as HIV-positive — a figure that includes over 400 children who contracted the virus from their parents.

Doctors and health workers say the growing number of infected children is among the most troubling aspects of the crisis. Most of these cases, they explain, stem from situations where either one or both parents were HIV-positive but unaware of their status, resulting in mother-to-child transmission during birth. Despite multiple awareness drives, medical staff say misconceptions and lack of health education continue to fuel the spread.

Dr. Haseen Akhtar, a medical officer at the ART Centre, described the situation as “extremely concerning,” noting that the district has effectively become a high-load region for HIV. According to him, the centre sees 40 to 60 new registrations every month, and nearly 5,000 patients depend on it for regular antiretroviral treatment.

Health officials point to a combination of social and behavioural factors behind the rise. Many families enter marriages without prior medical testing, while large-scale migration for work exposes individuals to higher risk without adequate preventive knowledge. Stigma and fear around HIV testing also remain major barriers, with many delaying or avoiding screening altogether.