Phnom Penh, Jan 10 (IANS): At least 212 villagers have been infected with HIV in Cambodia's Battambang province, the health ministry and the World Health Organisation (WHO) jointly announced Saturday.

"From Dec 8-31, 2014, a total of 1,940 people from Roka commune voluntarily undertook HIV testing and counseling and 212 people tested positive," a joint statement said.

"Among the 212 HIV carriers, 39 people are below 14 years old, 127 are between 15 to 59 years old and 46 people are 60 years old and above," Xinhua quoted the statement as saying.

Locals in the commune flocked to a health centre to have their blood tested for HIV since Dec 8 after a 74-year-old man, who tested positive for the virus in November, alerted others who used to receive medical treatment from an unlicensed doctor to get tested.

Villagers have pinned the blame of the outbreak on the unlicensed doctor, Yem Chrin, 56, who allegedly used unsterilised needles and reused syringes on patients.