Viral Claim of 7,000 HIV-Positive Students in Karnataka Is False, Says KSAPS

The Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) has dismissed viral social media reports claiming that 7,000 students in the state are HIV-positive and that the government has made HIV testing mandatory in colleges. Officials described the claims as "false and misleading," urging the public not to spread unverified information.

KSAPS Project Director Padma Basavanthappa, IAS, clarified that the department does not classify HIV data based on categories such as students, housewives, or family members. As a result, there are no official statistics identifying the number of students living with HIV in Karnataka.

Refuting the widely circulated figure of 7,000 students, Basavanthappa said KSAPS has recorded approximately 39,000 HIV-positive individuals in the 18–35 age group cumulatively since 2004, making the viral claim factually incorrect.

She also stressed that mandatory HIV testing is not permitted under the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017, which requires informed consent before any HIV test or treatment can take place. Instead, KSAPS is conducting awareness campaigns in colleges and educational institutions to encourage voluntary testing and promote safe practices.

According to KSAPS, awareness drives are also being carried out in industries, software companies, police departments, transport services, and medical education institutions to improve public understanding of HIV prevention and early detection.

The agency estimates that around 56,000 people in Karnataka are unaware of their HIV status, while only about 12 percent of HIV-positive individuals voluntarily visit testing centres. To improve early diagnosis, KSAPS has promoted the Break Free mobile application, which allows users to confidentially assess their HIV risk through a seven-question self-assessment without collecting personal information. Those found to be at risk are encouraged to voluntarily visit the nearest Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC).

Basavanthappa noted that Karnataka continues to record 11,000 to 12,000 new HIV-positive cases annually, highlighting that HIV remains a significant public health concern. She added that changing social behaviour, including anonymous interactions through dating applications, has made contact tracing more challenging.

The official urged the public to practice safe sex, use condoms, and seek counselling and testing whenever necessary.

She also highlighted that nearly 23,000 people are currently receiving free HIV treatment through KSAPS, with around 96 percent achieving viral suppression, significantly reducing the risk of transmission.

Expressing concern over the spread of misinformation, Basavanthappa said the false reports had created unnecessary panic among parents and the general public. She advised people to verify information through KSAPS or the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) before sharing it and warned that legal action could be taken against those who continue to circulate false claims.

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