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EPOK: A family of three — a father, a mother and a child — who lived at Pancoran Mas district in Depok, West Java, died after they were infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), a virus that causes progressive failures of the immune system.

The only surviving member is Zh, a six-year-old boy.

“We knew that Zh suffers from HIV after he underwent a blood test. He was treated at Fatmawati Hospital in South Jakarta for 12 days,” said Nyai Manih, Zh’s grandmother, in Depok on Monday.

Zh was first infected with HIV three years ago. Nyai Manih suspected that her daughter-in-law and her two grandchildren obtained the virus from her son, who was an injection drug-user.

“Only in two years, I have lost my son, daughter-in-law and a grandchild,” said Nyai Manih, as quoted by Antara.

Nyai Manih said her son died when Zh was only six-months old. Shortly afterward, Zh’s older brother died, followed by his mother.

“Now, he lives only with me and his grandfather,” said Nyai Manih. — JP