Sindh has reported 894 new HIV cases in the first three months of 2026, raising serious concerns over infection control practices and gaps in the province’s healthcare system, officials confirmed.
According to data from the Sindh Health Department, the newly reported cases include 329 children under the age of 14, 332 men, 204 women, and 29 transgender individuals, as reported by The News.
Health experts say the rising trend reflects persistent weaknesses in infection prevention and regulatory oversight, particularly in major urban centres such as Karachi.
A month-wise breakdown shows 294 cases in January, 324 in February, and 276 in March, indicating a steady spread of the virus across the province.
The situation has revived concerns nearly seven years after the major HIV outbreak in Ratodero in 2019, which exposed unsafe medical practices and infected hundreds of children. Experts warn that continued new infections suggest that key systemic issues remain unresolved.
Public health specialists attribute the ongoing spread to poor infection prevention and control measures, including the reuse of syringes and IV equipment, inadequate sterilisation of medical tools, and transfusion of unscreened blood.
Healthcare professionals acknowledge that such unsafe practices persist in both public and private facilities due to weak enforcement and limited monitoring. Experts stress that strict compliance with infection control protocols is essential to prevent further spread.
An infectious diseases specialist in Karachi described the situation as deeply alarming, noting a continued rise in paediatric cases linked to weak safety standards. Many infections, according to experts, are only detected incidentally when children are screened for recurrent illnesses or immune deficiencies.
The issue gained further attention after around 100 HIV cases were detected at the Kulsoom Bai Valika Hospital in Karachi’s SITE area, prompting the suspension of the paediatric department and multiple investigations. However, officials acknowledge that new infections continue to emerge across the province.
Of the 329 infected children, 188 were boys and 141 were girls under the age of 14, highlighting a concerning proportion of paediatric cases.
Public health experts have warned that without strict enforcement of infection control protocols and elimination of unsafe medical practices, Sindh could continue to experience recurring outbreaks similar to the Ratodero incident.
They have called for urgent reforms, including safe blood screening, sterilisation of medical equipment, elimination of syringe reuse, stronger regulatory oversight, and improved disease surveillance. Awareness campaigns and early diagnosis are also considered critical to reducing transmission.
With an average of three to four new cases diagnosed daily, experts say the growing burden underscores unfinished reforms in the healthcare system, leaving vulnerable populations, especially children, at continued risk.