The BBC, Eurasianet and other media outlets (see also Jakarta News) are reporting that at least 40 young children, mostly babies, have been infected with HIV at a regional hospital in Namangan.

The infections were reportedly first detected in October and have been referred to prosecutors for investigation. However, sources have spoken only on condition of anonymity and Saidmurod Saidaliyev, head of the health ministry’s Department for Sanitary and Epidemiology Control has denied the story.

This is not the first such instance of an outbreak of HIV contamination in Central Asia. In 2007, 21 Kazakh medics were convicted of infecting nearly 50 babies with HIV, while in August this year nine Kyrgyz doctors were found guilty of infecting 24 children with HIV.

Rates of HIV infection in Central Asia are increasing year-on-year. Back in early 2006 Neweurasia surveyed the situation vis-a-vis HIV/AIDS in Central Asia and the Caucasus. It didn’t make pretty reading. Various reasons are cited for increasing rates of HIV/AIDS: intravenous drug use (i.e. shared needles), unprotected sex, lack of public awareness, migrant labour, poor medical hygiene etc.

In this instance it seems (mish-mish) that poor hospital hygiene is to blame. However, the immediate official response to flatly deny that any such infections have occurred smacks of a government cover-up and bodes ill for a responsible approach to combatting HIV/AIDS.