HIV Outbreak in Uttarakhand Village

• 05 Nov 2024

Why in News?

Recently, a HIV outbreak has been reported in Ramnagar, Nainital, raising awareness on the impact of drug addiction and unprotected sexual interactions.

Key Points

• HIV Spread:
  • Over 19 men in Ramnagar tested positive for HIV after unprotected sexual interactions.
  • Authorities emphasize this as a wake-up call for stricter community health vigilance.
• HIV in India - Statistics:
  • As of 2022, around 2.47 million Indians live with HIV, with a 0.2% adult prevalence rate.
  • New infections have dropped by over 42% since 2010, with AIDS-related deaths declining by nearly 77%.
• Government Efforts:
  • India’s National AIDS and STI Control Programme (2021-2025) is funded largely domestically, focusing on prevention, testing, and treatment.
  • The Ministry of Social Justice operates a national helpline to support those with addiction and substance-related issues.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

• About:
  • HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which is a virus that attacks the immune system in the human body.
  • It primarily targets and damages CD4 immune cells, which are essential for the body's ability to fight infections and diseases.
    • Over time, HIV weakens the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to opportunistic infections and cancers.
• Transmission:
  • HIV is primarily spread through the exchange of certain bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.
• Severity:
  • If left untreated, the virus destroys a person’s immune system and they are said to be in the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome stage (AIDS) where they get several opportunistic infections that may result in death.
• Cure:
  • Although there are no cures for the infection at present, the disease can be managed using antiretroviral therapy.
    • These medicines suppress the replication of the virus within the body, allowing the number of CD4 immune cells to bounce back.