Morning Briefing

PlusNews examines HIV/AIDS in Laos, writing, "Out of a total population of 6.3 million, the national prevalence of 0.2 percent among 15-49-year-olds puts the 8,500 reported HIV/AIDS cases in Laos nearly a decade behind that of its neighbors." However, the news service notes that, "as the socialist country increasingly opens its borders, health workers are bracing for a potential concentrated, 'catastrophic' outbreak in a country where HIV prevention is not yet a priority." Kinoy Phongdeth, director of the Lao Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, said, "It is true that in Laos there are not so many people living with HIV and AIDS, but we are still people and we need help," PlusNews reports (12/2).