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Explosive spread and effective control of human immunodeficiency
virus in northernmost Thailand: the epidemic in Chiang Rai province,
1988-99.
AIDS 2000;14(17):2731-2740.
Kilmarx PH, Supawitkul S, Wankrairoj M, Uthaivoravit W, Limpakarnjanarat
K, Saisorn S, Mastro TD.
Abstract
The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) epidemic began in Asia later
than most in other regions but then spread very rapidly. Upper northern Thailand
was severely affected, with among the highest infection rates in Asia. The
first 12 years of the HIV epidemic in Chiang Rai, Thailand's northernmost
province are described. HIV infection was not reported in Chiang Rai until
1988 but, within a few years more than half of the brothel-based female sex
workers and one in six of 21-year-old male Royal Thai Army conscripts from
the province were HIV infected. Infection rates in Chiang Rai have since
declined following an aggressive prevention campaign, but the number of AIDS
cases continues to mount, along with profound demographic, social and economic
effects.