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Bihar State AIDS Control Society: Bihar State AIDS Control Society BSACS has termed the news of HIV epidemic in Sitamarhi as misleading. The committee says that 4958 patients are undergoing treatment, the viral figures are from two decades.
Patna/Sitamarhi. After the news of “big epidemic” spread on social media and some channels regarding the number of HIV/AIDS infected patients in Sitamarhi district, Bihar State AIDS Control Committee (BSACS) has issued an official statement calling these claims misleading and beyond the facts. The committee says that the situation of HIV in the district is not as serious as it is being shown, but the treatment, availability of medicines and monitoring of patients in the state is completely controlled and systematic. Bihar State AIDS Control Committee has described it as completely misleading and factless. The committee says that the figures being presented are completely beyond the actual situation.
According to the committee, ICTC (HIV Testing and Counseling Center) in Sitamarhi district was started in the year 2005 and ART (Anti Retro Viral Therapy) center was established on 1 December 2012. From the year 2005 till now i.e. in the last 20 years, a total of about 6900 patients have been registered. Many of these patients have died, some have shifted to other districts, while some are continuing their treatment in other cities.
Describing the current situation, the committee clarified that at present 4958 patients are taking ARV medicines regularly in the ART center of Sitamarhi. Whereas in the year 2025-26, only 200 new patients have been identified till October. The committee said that citing the current number of 6900 patients is completely beyond the facts, as this is the total consolidated data of two decades.
The committee also said that the claim of ‘increasing number of patients every day’ is misleading. Every day only those old registered patients reach the hospitals who come for their regular medicines or consultation. Regarding infection in children, the committee informed that till now only 188 children have been found infected and all of them are undergoing regular treatment. Financial assistance is also being provided for them under the Social Security Scheme.
Bihar State AIDS Control Committee has also appealed to the citizens of the state not to discriminate against HIV affected persons and more and more people – especially pregnant women, sexually transmitted patients, TB patients and high risk groups – should get themselves tested for HIV on time. The committee reiterated that this infection does not spread through casual contact and respect and cooperation towards the affected persons is the real responsibility of the society.
