NEW DELHI: More than 85,000 people reported HIV transmission due to unprotected sex during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020-21. Maharashtra topped the list of states with 10,498 cases, followed by Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, which reported 9,521 and 8,947 cases, respectively.
The data was provided by the government in response to an RTI query from Madhya Pradesh-based activist Chandra Shekhar Gaur. Surprisingly, the data on transmission was compiled on the basis of infections reported by the victims themselves, which shows the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS is gradually vanishing.
Uttar Pradesh also reported a high number of transmissions (6,905) due to unprotected sex, and so did Telangana (6,505) and Bihar with (5,462) during the first lockdown. Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan also saw high number of cases.
According to the official reply sent to Gaur, who shared details with this newspaper, 85,268 people in total from 36 states and Union Territories reported HIV transmission due to unprotected sex. A senior NACO official, preferring anonymity, said the number may increase if others indulged in unsafe sex venture out for self-reporting to testing centres from the lockdown period.
Apart from this, 300 cases of ‘mother to child’ transmissions have also been reported from36 states during the lockdown period. “Among the 300 cases, Maharashtra and Karnataka again topped with 31 such cases each, followed by Odisha with 24 cases Rajasthan ( 22) ,UP (21), MP (20,) Gujarat and Telangana (18 cases each) AP ( 15), West Bengal (13) and Bihar with 10 cases,” the RTI reply stated.