Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - February 9, 2001
Despite the welcomed news that efforts to halt the spread of HIV appear to be successful, health experts warned the figures may be just a statistical blip.
They said it was essential the successful awareness and prevention programmes were maintained.
The ministry said random tests performed on blood donors, pregnant women and men attending sexually-transmitted disease clinics last year found that incidence rates had fallen.
Among drug addicts, 47.2% were infected compared to 50.8% the year before, and men being treated for venereal disease reported a 5.9% incidence compared to 9.1% previously.
In the group of brothel-based prostitutes, however, infection rates rose to 18.5% from 16%.
"It's difficult to say why the statistics are up in some categories and down in others. We plan to launch a study into the reasons," a ministry spokeswoman said. The study also found that only 12,839 new HIV-Aids patients reported for treatment in hospitals in the first six months of 2000, down from 22,267 the same period the year before.
"However, it's possible that there are more patients who are not going in for treatment," she said Thailand, with a population of 60 million, has one of Asia's worst Aids problems. One million people have been infected so far and 300,000 of them have died.-AFP
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