Mass HIV infection suspected in Phu Tho: Discrimination is more dangerous than the virus

In recent days, the media has reported on an incident that occurred in Kim Thuong commune (Tan Son district, Phu Tho province) when the whole commune was in an uproar going to get tested for HIV.

The incident originated from a female patient in Chieng 3 area, Kim Thuong commune, who was found to be HIV positive while all her activities were confined to her home. According to this female patient, she had been sick and had gone to Dr. T.’s house to get an injection.

Upon hearing about the case of the female patient, many people in Kim Thuong commune suspected that the patient was infected with HIV during the treatment at Dr. T's house. Many people who had been treated at this doctor's house before also went to Tan Son District Medical Center to get their blood tested. They said that during the treatment, Mr. T. used a single needle and injected one person after another.

In addition to the female patient above, there are several other cases that have also been confirmed to be infected with HIV and many people are waiting for results from the health agency, thereby creating panic among the people in the commune who are afraid that they and their families will suddenly be infected with HIV.

Currently, the Ministry of Health has stepped in to investigate the cause and come up with a solution. As for doctor T., he rejected the opinion of many people that he did not follow the principles of aseptic treatment.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition that progressively weakens the human immune system, allowing opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive and threaten the lives of infected people.

HIV can be transmitted through blood, secretions of infected people such as vaginal fluid, semen. A small number of cases are transmitted through breast milk when HIV-infected mothers breastfeed their children. HIV is absolutely not transmitted through tears or saliva because the amount of virus is extremely low.

Illustration: Internet

An individual is at risk of HIV infection through invasive procedures that cause bleeding (sharing needles), unsafe sex (sex without condoms, sex with multiple partners), and HIV infection of the baby during birth from the mother or from the placenta during pregnancy.

HIV cannot be transmitted through other common close behaviors such as hugging, kissing, shaking hands or sharing food and drinks. Therefore, people who do not engage in such risky behaviors do not necessarily need to worry and do not need to be tested.

The first person to be diagnosed with HIV in Vietnam in December 1990 was a 30-year-old woman (infected by her fiancé). This woman is still healthy today because she regularly takes antiretroviral drugs and is optimistic. This is probably the information that many patients unfortunately infected with HIV feel as if they have been given more motivation.

In fact, many diseases are more dangerous than HIV, more contagious, and more fatal. With the same transmission route, hepatitis B virus (HBV) is less noticed even though it can cause acute hepatitis leading to hepatic coma and subsequent death. Most liver cancer patients also have a risk factor of previous hepatitis B virus infection.

It is obvious that HIV itself does not kill people immediately, as evidenced by the fact that in Vietnam there are people who have been living healthily with it for nearly 30 years. However, every day many patients die from HIV and HIV-related factors.

First of all, previous media mistakes have unintentionally pushed HIV patients into a situation where they “don’t dare to look anyone in the face”, people understand that HIV means death, HIV means prostitution, drugs and many other bad things. The community discriminates against and closes the door to integration with HIV patients. Their dignity is seriously trampled.

As for HIV patients, they have not received thorough psychological counseling. When faced with a major psychological trauma such as HIV infection, most of them collapse. Not only HIV, but also terminally ill patients such as cancer, if they do not improve their psychological state and live optimistically, will quickly collapse and die. On the contrary, if they maintain a good psychological state, the patient can still live a healthy life for a very long time.

HIV is not as scary as we think, what is scary is the lack of understanding about HIV and the attitude when facing it as well as the community's attitude towards the sick.

Currently, when exposed to HIV, patients will be examined, counseled and treated with ARV (antiretroviral) drugs. If the drugs are used within 72 hours of exposure and the treatment regimen is followed, the patient will have almost no risk of HIV infection.

In cases of HIV infection, patients will be treated with continuous ARV drugs to control the virus concentration in the body. The patient can still live a healthy life and work normally.

Many HIV patients are of reproductive age, they want to have sex and have children. This is completely possible if the patient follows the doctor's instructions and guidance. They will not infect their spouses, they can still have healthy children.

Currently there is no vaccine to prevent HIV, however with the development of treatment methods, HIV can be completely controlled, HIV patients can live healthy lives for a very long time.

Regarding the incident in Kim Thuong commune (Phu Tho), before receiving an official response from the authorities, people need to understand correctly to avoid panic. Because attitude towards illness is still the most important factor.