By George Martin For Mailonline and Afp
Published: 15:44 BST, 16 May 2019 | Updated: 18:48 BST, 16 May 2019
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A 'rogue doctor' allegedly caused 500 cases of HIV in Pakistan after using a contaminated needle.
Health authorities were forced to screen more than 14,000 people in the district of Larkana over the past month - with more than 400 children testing positive for the disease.
Dr Sikandar Memon, the regional coordinator of the Aids Control Programme, told the country's Dawn newspaper that another 29 patients tested positive in the most recent round of blood screening on Wednesday at the main hospital in Rato Dero.
A Pakistani paramedic takes a blood sample from a baby for a HIV test at a state-run hospital in Rato Dero
Officials have accused a doctor of causing the epidemic after repeatedly using a single contaminated syringe.
Dr Muzaffar Ghangharo, who officials said is himself living with HIV, has been in police custody since the outbreak began in April but denies the allegations.
'We are working on war footing to examine the suspects as well as those wishing to get themselves tested after a large number of cases were reported from Larkana and other districts,' Dr Memon said.
Anger and fear continue to swell in the desperately poor village hit hard by the epidemic, which authorities say could also be linked to gross negligence in the wider medical community.
