Dozens of 'quack' surgeries have been closed and a doctor arrested after scores of people including at least 75 children have been found to be infected with HIV in a Pakistani town.

Panic has spread through Ratodero in Sindh province after screening has revealed large numbers carrying the virus. Health officials believe the re-use of dirty syringes is spreading the virus.

Medical teams deployed after the first reports of cases say they have since tested more than 2,400 people in the past week and found at least 98 positive. That number is likely to rise as testing continues, Dr Sikandar Ali, provincial programme manager for HIV/AIDS control told the Telegraph.

Pakistan has one of the worst HIV infection rates in the region, but officials have said the virus is largely found in high risk groups including sex workers and their clients, as well as drug users.

“It is very astonishing for us. Usually this disease is not of the general population and here we sadly see lot of the general population is affected which is alarming for us,” Dr Ali said.