Agencies :
Panic has struck a small community in Cambodia’s northwestern province of Battambang after more than 100 villagers, including 19 children, tested positive for HIV in the past week, officials said.
Teng Kunthy, secretary-general of the National AIDS Authority, said that as of Wednesday, 106 villagers in Roka Commune had been diagnosed with HIV since December 8.
“Until now, we are still updating the number,” he told Al Jazeera.
After news of the outbreak spread, health clinics in the area have received a steady flow of villagers wanting to be tested for the disease, according to Roka Commune Chief Sim Pov.
“The situation is that people are sad. They don’t know how to deal with it,” he said, adding that more than 800 people have been tested in the past week.
Panic has struck a small community in Cambodia’s northwestern province of Battambang after more than 100 villagers, including 19 children, tested positive for HIV in the past week, officials said.
Teng Kunthy, secretary-general of the National AIDS Authority, said that as of Wednesday, 106 villagers in Roka Commune had been diagnosed with HIV since December 8.
“Until now, we are still updating the number,” he told Al Jazeera.
After news of the outbreak spread, health clinics in the area have received a steady flow of villagers wanting to be tested for the disease, according to Roka Commune Chief Sim Pov.
“The situation is that people are sad. They don’t know how to deal with it,” he said, adding that more than 800 people have been tested in the past week.
