LAHAN: As many as 26 new cases of Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) infection were detected in Siraha in the first month of ongoing fiscal year 2016/17.

The district had recorded 12 deaths due to the infection last year.

The Siraha District Public Health Office (DPHO) operated check-ups in VCT centres at Lahan-based Ram Prasad Uma Memorial Hospital and Siraha District Hospital to discover 26 new cases of the fatal virus.

A total of 20 persons tested positive for the HIV in Lahan Hospital and six in Siraha Hospital, Saroj Karna at the DPHO HIV AIDS Coordination Committee said.

Meanwhile, the total number of HIV positives in the district has climbed to 68.

As youth of the district in a high number are migrant workers in foreign countries and they do not undergo medical check-up after they return to the district, the HIV cases are ever increasing, the DPHO Chief Dr Daya Shankerl Lal Karna said.