The government cited a March 2025 intervention claiming no validated epidemiological link to THQ Taunsa, while a leaked joint mission report from UNICEF, WHO, and the regional health department highlighted unsafe injections and deficiencies in pediatric care.

Despite earlier suspensions and government promises of action, THQ Taunsa hospital officials deny responsibility, while BBC Eye footage shows ongoing unsafe injection practices and weak infection control eight months after leadership changes.

The outbreak fits a troubling pattern seen in earlier incidents in Ratodero (2019) and Karachi’s SITE Town, where unsafe injection practices contributed to pediatric HIV clusters.

Health officials point to systemic problems beyond a single facility, including unregulated private practices and unscreened blood transfusions as contributing factors to the outbreak.

Independent experts warn that reused syringes, non-sterile injections, and poor hand hygiene reflect broader systemic issues in Pakistan’s infection control training and hospital supply constraints.

BBC Eye reports a pediatric HIV outbreak centered in Taunsa, Punjab, identifying 331 children who tested positive between late 2024 and late 2025, with the majority linked to injections administered at THQ Taunsa hospital.

undercover footage from late 2025 reveals syringe reuse on multi-dose vials and multiple patients receiving injections with the same syringe or vial, creating clear transmission risks.

Asma, a survivor, embodies resilience and aspires to become a doctor, while her family describes stigma and ongoing health challenges tied to HIV.

Punjab AIDS screening data indicate contaminated needles as the transmission mode for more than half of the 331 cases, with mother-to-child transmission appearing relatively unlikely in the sampled group.