Bihar is sitting on the time bomb of AIDS epidemic. It is revealed by recent surveys which show that the HIV prevalence rate in Bihar is about five times higher than what was believed to be and eight populous districts in the state are in grip of HIV epidemic. The survey conducted by Bihar State AIDS control society in all 38 districts in July 2005 and December 2005 have found the rate to be 0.53%.Most of the people detected are in the age-group of 25 to 45 years.
The situation is alarming as it Bihar is one of the poorest states in the country and hence among the biggest suppliers of migrant laborers.Whether it is seasonal farm hands for Punjab or construction workers for the skyscrapers in Mumbai and Delhi or new suburbs the daily wagers are supplied by Bihar.
A prevalence rate of 0.53% suggests NACO's projection of 0.13% was grossly undervalued.
| District | Prevalence Rate |
| SitaMarhi | 3.70% |
| East Champaran | 2.28% |
| Khagaria | 1.89% |
| Purnea | 1.81% |
| Kishanganj | 1.52% |
| West Champaran | 1.28% |
| Madhubani | 1.26% |
| Muzzaffarpur | 1.07% |
National Rate- 0.9% | State Rate- 0.53%
These districts are among the poorest in Bihar and have huge migrant population. Most of the districts also share borders with Nepal. The high prevalence rates are direct fallout of the extreme poverty of these districts and the high migration rates. Due to lack of employment opportunities most men in rural Bihar migrate to Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra and other states to work as laborers and spread the infection to their wives in the villages. According to the officials the remotest villages in every district were chosen to get genuine figures among the rural population. Samples found positive were tested twice to get confirmed figures.BSACS believes that the rate at which the infection is spreading very soon will cross the 1% prevalence rate.
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