Pakistan forms inquiry panel after HIV outbreak at Karachi hospital sickens children

The Sindh government has established a five-member investigative committee to look into an HIV outbreak at another hospital operated by the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI) in Karachi, according to Dawn. Dawn reports that the panel has been tasked with determining the cause of the outbreak and identifying those responsible. The development follows reports of multiple infections at the facility. The outbreak at the SESSI-run hospital has resulted in at least 94 children testing positive for HIV, with six deaths reported, according to the Daily Pioneer. The infections have sparked protests in Karachi, with demonstrators accusing government clinics of transmitting the virus to children, as reported by IANS LIVE.  This is not the first such incident at a SESSI facility. Pakistan Today reports that SESSI has expanded HIV screening across its hospitals in Sindh in response to the crisis. The current investigation comes after a previous HIV outbreak at another SESSI-run hospital in the province drew widespread condemnation. The committee’s findings are expected to be made public in the coming weeks, as health authorities face mounting pressure to prevent further infections and improve safety protocols at public health facilities.