Haryana is witnessing a steep rise in the number of people living with HIV – a retrovirus that attacks your body’s immune system – a trend that officials have attributed to increased testing across the state. The Human immunodeficiency virus weakens your body's ability to fight off infections like tuberculosis, fungal infections, and severe bacterial infections. There is no cure for HIV, but it can be treated with medicines.

According to data from the Union Ministry of Health and the National AIDS Control Organisation, over 50,000 people have been living with HIV in Haryana since 2019. The number stood at 50,604 in 2019 and climbed to 56,578 by 2023, marking an 11 per cent increase over four years. The data reveals a steady annual rise, with 51,840 cases in 2020, 53,115 in 2021, and 54,547 in 2022.

The health department says Gurgaon – one of the biggest office hubs in South Asia - has reported the highest number with 201 cases in 2021, which surged to 1,491 so far this year. Officials suggest this rise could be linked to increased testing, which has more than doubled from 30,571 tests conducted in 2020 to 64,043 tests this year.

According to news reports, health department officials say they have implemented several measures – apart from increased testing among high-risk populations, which include awareness campaigns to curb the spread of HIV. "The most affected demographic is between the ages of 22 and 43. Men account for 56% of the cases, while women and children comprise 40%. The remaining cases involve transgender individuals. High-risk sexual behavior and tattoo exposure are the primary modes of transmission," an official was quoted by the Times of India.

Apart from that, the provision of affordable medical treatment is being highlighted as a major step in the fight against the rising menace. To prevent the spread of the virus, officials have emphasized the importance of practicing safe sex, avoiding needle sharing, and getting regular tests. "We are focusing our testing efforts in jails, slums, among transgender individuals, and truck drivers to identify and treat those who are HIV-positive," said Virender Yadav, Gurgaon's Chief Medical Officer.

Last year, Haryana recorded 305 deaths linked to AIDS, at a rate of 1.02 per lakh of the state's population. The fatality rate per lakh was 4.1 per cent in 2019, 2.2 per cent in 2020, 2 per cent in 2021, and 1.4 per cent in 2022.

According to experts, HIV – which leads to AIDS in its final and most serious stage of the infection is a serious condition. Those living with AIDS have very low counts of certain white blood cells and severely damaged immune systems. They may have additional illnesses that indicate that they have progressed to AIDS.

Without treatment, HIV infections progress to AIDS in about 10 years.

AIDS causes rapid weight loss, extreme tiredness, mouth or genital ulcers, fevers, night sweats, and skin discolorations. Other illnesses and cancers often happen in people living with AIDS and can cause additional symptoms.

Experts say it is a big myth that HIV only infects certain people – and anyone can contract the virus if they get exposed either by having sex without a condom or sharing needles to inject drugs. Some populations are statistically more affected by HIV than others, which include:

While according to doctors, these are not the only populations impacted by HIV, it is extremely important to consider that they face unique barriers to accessing preventative care, getting tested, and receiving comprehensive treatment. Homophobia, racism, poverty, and social stigmas around HIV continue to drive inequities and keep people from accessing high-quality healthcare.

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