Doctor arrested in Pakistan after ‘at least 90’ infected with HIV needle

Police accuse Dr Muzaffar Ghangharo of also having HIV

Up to 65 children have also been infected (iStock)

A doctor has been arrested in Pakistan after he allegedly used a syringe contaminated with HIV, infecting up to 90 people, including 65 children.

Dr Muzaffar Ghangharo was charged with infecting his patients in the southern city of Larkana, the daily Express Tribune newspaper reported.

“We have arrested a doctor after receiving complaints from the health authorities,” said the local police chief, Kamran Nawaz, according to the Agence France-Presse news agency. “We are told that the doctor also has HIV,” he added.

Dr Abdul Rehaman, a district health official in the city, told the agency: “More than 90 people have tested HIV positive and the number of children is around 65.”

Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper said at least 88 people had tested HIV positive in the small town of Ratodero, where Dr Ghangharo runs a private clinic.

Authorities became alarmed earlier this month when the number of HIV cases rose to at least 39, including more than a dozen children.

An inquiry found most of the children who tested positive for HIV had visited Dr Ghangharo’s private clinic.

Dr Ghangharo has denied the charges against him, the Express Tribune reported.

He said he did not know he was HIV positive and said: “If I had known about my condition, then I would have sought medical help.”