Thailand Recording High Number of New HIV/AIDS Cases, Survey Says

Thailand is recording a high number of new HIV/AIDS cases, primarily because of the prevalence of high-risk sexual activities in the country, according to a recent survey released by the Population and Community Development Association, the Bangkok Post reports. According to the survey, at least 40 people newly contract HIV in Thailand each day.

According to PCDA Chair Mechai Veravaidya, new HIV cases are mostly being recorded among teenagers ages 15 to 19. The survey found that this group tended not to use condoms and had casual sex with multiple partners. Mechai said a lack of condom use promotion has made the disease "very serious again," the Post reports. He added that the country needs to renew a campaign that promotes condom use to fight the spread of HIV or the virus will begin to affect Thailand's health care system.

According to the Post, an estimated 500,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in the country, and more than 80% of people living with the disease are in need of antiretroviral drugs (Treerutkuarkul, Bangkok Post, 3/20).