As many as 26 new cases of Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) were detected in Siraha in the ongoing fiscal year 2016/17 after recording 12 deaths in the preceding fiscal year.

District Public Health Office (DPHO) Siraha ran examinations in VCT centres at Lahan-based Ram Prasad Uma Memorial Hospital and Siraha District Hospital to find 26 new cases of the fatal virus.

A total of 20 persons tested positive for the HIV in Lahan Hospital and six in Siraha Hospital, DPHO Siraha HIV AIDS Coordination Committee's Saroj Karna said.

The total number of people carrying HIV in Siraha has now climbed to 68. A huge portion of the youths go to migrant works in foreign countries from the district and do not undergo medical check up after returning which is the reason the HIV cases are increasing, DPHO Siraha Chief, Dr Daya Shankerlal Karna said. RSS