Experts urge expanded testing, targeted awareness to contain HIV transmission

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2026) Health experts on Sunday stressed the need for expanded testing, strict screening of blood and medical procedures, and stronger public awareness campaigns to effectively contain the spread of HIV transmission.

Experts, including Dr. Quaid Saeed and Dr. Rana Jawad Asghar, in exclusive messages to private media channels, highlighted the importance of expanded testing, targeted awareness, and behavioural interventions to contain HIV transmission.

Experts said that HIV is no longer limited to any single or specific population group and is increasingly being reported across broader segments of society. They warned that the pattern of spread shows the infection is becoming more widespread than previously observed.

They advised strict precautions including safe and screened blood transfusions, use of sterilized and single-use syringes, and increased public awareness about transmission risks.

Regarding signs and symptoms, the experts explained that HIV may initially present with flu-like illness, persistent fever, fatigue, weight loss and recurrent infections. They stressed that in many cases the infection remains undetected for a long time, making early testing essential for timely diagnosis and treatment.

The media must play a key role in supporting awareness efforts to help curb the spread of the disease, they stressed.