Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal Sees Rise in HIV Cases as Injectable Drug Use Surges, Say Health Officials
HIV positivity rates in Himachal Pradesh have doubled in five years, with officials linking the rise to an increase in injectable drug users in border districts. Health authorities are expanding OST centres and intensifying campaigns to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
The HIV positivity rate in Himachal Pradesh has been steadily rising over the past five years. In 2021–22, 0.12 per cent of the 2,98,738 people screened tested positive. By 2025–26, the positivity rate has climbed to 0.25 per cent among the 2,55,122 individuals screened so far. Health authorities say the increase is partly due to improved detection through sustained outreach, but a major factor is the growing number of injectable drug users in the state.
“The number of injectable drug users is rising sharply in the border districts, and that is driving up the HIV numbers. Many oral drug users eventually shift to injecting and often end up sharing needles, which greatly increases the risk of transmission,” an official said.
A slight uptick has also been observed among other vulnerable groups such as female sex workers (FSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM). “Unlike injectable drug users, the rise among FSW and MSM is confined to a few hotspots,” the official added. Among truckers, migrant workers and the transgender community, the numbers have remained stable.
To curb the rise, the state is scaling up preventive measures, particularly for injectable drug users. “Two Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) centres are already operational in Una and Nurpur, and seven more will be set up at medical colleges, Manali and Hamirpur,” the official said. These centres provide oral substitutes to help individuals gradually move away from injectable drugs.
The state is also running the Elimination of Vertical Transmission of HIV and Syphilis (EVTHS) campaign to prevent transmission from pregnant women to their unborn children. Under the programme, all pregnant women are screened during the first trimester. “If a pregnant woman tests positive for HIV or syphilis, early treatment ensures that the baby is protected,” the official said.
