Karachi HIV Outbreak: Child Treated at Valika Hospital Tests Positive
Karachi has witnessed a concerning HIV outbreak among children in Orangi Town, with the total number of infected minors reaching 107. Recently, a three-year-old girl was diagnosed HIV-positive after receiving treatment at the Kulsum Bai Valika Social Security SITE Hospital, widely known as Valika Hospital.
The child’s family reported that her HIV infection was confirmed following three different laboratory tests, including Rapid Detect, Uni-Gold, and HIV Combo (Ag/Ab) tests. They noted that her health began to decline after treatment at Valika Hospital, prompting them to seek testing for the virus.
This case adds to an ongoing investigation into the HIV outbreak linked to children who underwent medical procedures at the government-run Valika Hospital located in SITE Town. According to health authorities, alongside the confirmed infections in children from Orangi Town, the death toll among affected children in Zia Colony has risen to nine.
Several families of the infected children have alleged that hospital staff were reusing syringes on multiple patients, thereby facilitating the transmission of HIV. In February 2026, Federal Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal publicly attributed the outbreak to the reuse of contaminated syringes at Valika Hospital.
Furthermore, during a National Assembly session on June 10, the minister disclosed that the government had imposed a ban on five types of syringes as part of efforts to combat the rising number of HIV/AIDS cases across Pakistan. He also mentioned that increasing HIV cases had been reported in other regions, including Islamabad and Taunsa in Punjab.
The minister shared that approximately 366,000 people in Pakistan are living with HIV/AIDS and emphasized that the disease can be effectively managed when diagnosed and treated promptly. He further explained that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a special committee dedicated to curbing the spread of HIV. The federal government is collaborating with provincial authorities to strengthen prevention and control strategies nationwide.
This outbreak highlights ongoing challenges regarding medical safety protocols in healthcare facilities and underscores the importance of stringent infection control measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Related Stories
- US FDA Approves Oral Antibiotic Utebzi for UTIs
- HIV/AIDS Cases Rise in Pakistan; Five Syringe Types Banned
- Lahore Surgeon Faces Inquiry Over Rs 1M Illegal Heart Surgery Charge
- Islamabad Inaugurates New School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Suspect in Quetta Acid Attack on Doctor Killed in Police Encounter