21 Doctors, Officials Charged Over Kazakh HIV Outbreak
January 09, 2007
January 9, 2007 -- Kazakhstan's prosecutor-general has filed charges against 21 doctors and health officials in connection with an HIV outbreak that authorities blamed on negligence.
Kazakh authorities say an investigation into the infections of more than 80 people in the South Kazakhstan Province since May indicates the HIV virus was spread through blood transfusions and tainted syringes.
Most of the victims have been children under the age of 3, at least eight of whom have died.
The country's health minister, Yerbolat Dosaev, and the regional governor in Southern Kazakhstan were replaced after news of the infections emerged.
(AP)