Sirajganj classified as ‘red zone’ as HIV cases rise, students among those infected

The number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive cases in Sirajganj has risen sharply, prompting the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to declare the district a “red zone”.

According to the HIV centre, 255 positive patients have been identified in the district, 73 percent of whom are “injecting drug” users.

Masud Rana, councillor-cum-administrator of the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Centre at Sirajganj Sadar Hospital, reported that of the 255 people infected, 187 are injecting drug users.

Among the others, 29 are college and university students, 35 are members of the general public, and four are sex workers.

“In this situation, Sirajganj district is being classified as a ‘red zone’,” he said.

According to the ART Centre, HIV testing started in Sirajganj on Feb 20, 2020. Since then, four patients were identified in 2020, eight in 2021, and 69 in 2022.

In 2023 and 2024, an additional 136 people were infected in the district.

With 38 cases identified till September this year, the number of patients in the district has now increased to 255, of which 26 have lost their lives so far.