Mizoram Faces Rising HIV Challenges Among MSM Population

Concerns Over Increasing HIV Cases in Mizoram

Aizawl, Jan 12: The Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) has raised alarms regarding a significant increase in the number of men who have sex with men (MSM) in the region, highlighting that this trend presents a critical public health issue in the ongoing battle against HIV.

According to MSACS officials, 1,105 MSM individuals have been registered with the organization and are currently receiving counseling services. However, they emphasized that this number is on the rise annually and only represents a small portion of the actual population.

“This demographic is at a heightened risk for HIV infection, making it perilous if they remain unregistered,” stated MSACS representatives. They noted that many MSM individuals refrain from registering due to fears of identity exposure, including married men who worry about being outed. “Even if we are aware of their identities, we cannot offer treatment unless they are officially registered,” the officials explained.

Interestingly, MSACS pointed out that MSM are not solely found in urban centers; they are also present in rural areas throughout the state, suggesting that the true number of MSM is likely much higher than those currently documented.

Official statistics reveal that since 1990, a total of 33,781 individuals have been diagnosed with HIV in Mizoram. From April to November 2025, 3,257 new infections were identified from 145,525 blood samples tested, resulting in a positivity rate of 2.24 percent.

Sexual transmission is the leading cause of HIV spread in the state, accounting for 70.04 percent of cases, followed by syringe sharing at 27 percent, mother-to-child transmission at 1.8 percent, and 0.80 percent of cases where the transmission method remains unknown.

On a brighter note, Health and Family Welfare Minister Lalrinpuii announced that Mizoram ranks third in the nation for its HIV prevention initiatives.

She mentioned that the state has established 14 antiretroviral therapy (ART) centers, four of which are located in Aizawl, with the others affiliated with district hospitals.

Currently, 18,231 individuals are alive and receiving ART. However, 1,169 registered patients have stopped their treatment, and over 7,000 HIV-positive individuals have yet to start ART, she added.

By

correspondent