About 500 people, mostly children, test positive for HIV in Pakistan's Larkana district

thing seemed unusual to Rehmana Bibi, mor of 10-year-old Ali Raza, when boy came down with a fever at ir home in dusty, largely neglected district of Larkana in sourn Pakistan.

Bibi took her son to a local doctor, who prescribed paracetamol syrup for Raza and told her re was need to worry. But she panicked after being alerted that several children who initially came down with a fever had tested positive for HIV in nearby vills.

Alarmed, Bibi took Raza to a hospital where medical tests confirmed boy was among about 500 people, mostly children, who authorities say tested positive for virus, which can lead to AIDS. A local physician who has AIDS has since been arrested and is being investigated for possibly intentionally infecting patients.

"We were in great pain  day we heard about our son testing HIV positive," she told  Associated Press on Thursday.

Bibi said it was heartbreaking to learn that her child contracted HIV at such a young . She said all her family members have been tested for virus that attacks immune system, but Raza was found to be only victim.

Bibi said she has had sleepless nights from worrying and has been looking after her son since early this month when he was confirmed HIV-positive. She said she wants to see her son healthy and fully recovered as soon as possible.

Sikandar Memon, head of  AIDS Control Program in Sindh province, said officials have screened 13,800 people from Larkana and 410 children and 100 adults tested positive for HIV.

Nationwide, Pakistan's Health Ministry has registered over 23,000 HIV cases. Pakistani health officials have said HIV is usually spread in country by using unsterilized syringes.

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Authorities say HIV outbreak in Larkana was apparently started when local physician Muzaffar Ghangharo, who has AIDS, infected patients in early April.

Ghangharo was arrested earlier this month after Raza and ors tested positive for virus. Police are still trying to determine wher Ghangharo kwingly spread  disease to ors.

Larkana is home district of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who was killed in a bomb and gun attack in garrison city of Rawalpindi in 2007. Her far, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, also served as prime minister in 1970s. He was hanged by military dictator Gen. Ziaul Haq.