Muzaffarpur, May 18: Bihar may have captured the world’s attention because of its development, but on the health front, it still has miles to go. This is evident from the fact that districts of north Bihar have of late witnessed a spurt in Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cases, particularly in Muzaffarpur and its adjoining areas.

In three years, 24 persons, including women and children belonging to villages falling under Bochahan, Mushahri, Kudhani and Saraiya blocks have succumbed to the virus. The spurt in the number of AIDS cases has put officials of National AIDS Control Organisation (Naco) into a tizzy.

A three-member Naco team, headed by national technical spot unit officer Dr Rajan Khokhra, recently visited Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) to take stock of the situation.

The inspecting team described the situation in the districts of north Bihar as alarming following rise in the number of cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS. The team held parleys and supervised the ongoing line of treatment with the superintendent of SKMCH and the doctors belonging to antiretroviral therapy centre set up by Naco in SKMCH to treat HIV and AIDS cases.

The team was stunned to see the record number of cases in the antiretroviral therapy centre.

Dr Sunil Kumar, the in-charge of the antiretroviral therapy centre of SKMCH, said: “There are six antiretroviral therapy centres in the state but the maximum number of cases reported were at the SKMCH centre.” The visiting team inspected antiretroviral therapy centre, integrated counselling and testing centre, prevention of parent to child transmission centre and blood banks of the hospital.

Dr Kumar said the official AIDS death toll in the region stands at 24 and keeps on rising. But the actual number, the doctors of SKMCH privately admit, is more. “This is just the tip of iceberg,” said Dr G.K. Thakur, the SKMCH superintendent.

There could be a number of undetected AIDS carriers who are spreading the virus unknowingly is the common refrain of the government doctors as well as private practitioners. It is officially learnt that the Voluntary Diagnostic Centre, HIV of SKMCH alone has detected 158 HIV cases in a span of three years. The sexually transmitted disease (STD) centre of the Sadar Hospital has also found 35 HIV cases.

SKMCH tested the blood samples of 560 persons, including those of men and women, and detected 158 HIV cases. Some of the victims who by that time had developed pathological signs of the disease have been undergoing treatment at private nursing homes in Patna and Muzaffarpur.