More Than 800 Students In Tripura Test Positive For HIV, 47 Dead After Drug Use

As many as 47 students have died out of 828 who tested positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Tripura.

This virus is responsible for causing AIDS. The alarming revelation was made by the Tripura State AIDS Control Society (TSACS) in a joint press conference with the Tripura Journalist Union and Web Media Forum.

“We have so far registered 828 students who are HIV positive. Out of them, 572 students are still alive and we have lost 47 people due to the dreaded infection,” a TSACS official said per The Week. The official also revealed that many of the positive students have migrated to other states for higher studies.

Shockingly enough, the officials believe that the disease was spread among the students through injectable drug use. These cases are reportedly spread across 220 schools and 24 higher institutions in the state.

These students are said to be from rich families. “By the time they realise that their children fell prey to drugs, it was too late,” said Subhrajit Bhattacharjee, Joint Director of TSACS.

He also revealed the data collected on the active cases of HIV in the state. Out of 8,729 cases registered till May 2024, 5,674 are alive. Out of these 4,570 are males while 1,103 are females.