More than 13,000 new cases of HIV in Thailand...Young People's Infection Surges, Why?
Jul 11, 2025
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As condom use declines, infections are increasing rapidly among young people.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that gradually weakens immunity by attacking the body's immune system.
This virus causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
According to Thai media, including the Bangkok Post, the Ministry of Health reported to lawmakers that HIV cases are stabilizing nationwide, but new infections are surging among teenagers and young adults due to the false belief and complacency that HIV is no longer a serious threat.
According to health officials, more than 547,000 people in Thailand have been infected with HIV so far.
According to authorities, patients are concentrated in Bangkok, Chonburi, Konkan, and Nakhon Ratchasima, which are large cities and tourist destinations.
Accordingly, health authorities plan to distribute condoms to schools and strengthen sex education.
Officials will also work with businesses in high-risk industries such as entertainment and tourism to expand HIV testing nationwide.
Thailand's goal is to reduce the number of new infections to less than 1000 and reduce deaths to less than 4000 per year.
However, experts have warned that these goals may be difficult to achieve because many young people mistakenly believe HIV can be cured.
Thailand spends about 8.4 billion baht (about 355.2 billion won) annually on HIV prevention and treatment, and most of the funds are spent on drug treatment rather than prevention programs.
The average annual treatment cost is 12,000 baht (about 510,000 won) per patient.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
