HIV fear for Essex mothers

Mothers in Essex are being offered HIV tests after it was discovered that a healthcare worker that treated them was infected with the virus.

Nearly 200 mothers, who were treated at Basildon and Southend Hospital, came into contact with the worker while having caesarean births.

The unnamed healthcare worker was employed at the hospitals in 2006 and early 2007.

Dr Grahame Tosh, medical director at Southend University Hospital, said in a statement: "We are very sorry that some of outpatients could have been exposed to the risk of HIV infection.

"However, it is important to stress that transmission of HIV from an infected healthcare worker to a patient is very rare."

A total of 126 patients have been identified from Basildon Hospital and 66 from Southend Hospital.

International aids charity Avert says that to be infected with HIV, body fluid from a person with the disease needs to get inside your body.