Explosive spread and effective control of human immunodeficiency virus in northernmost Thailand: the epidemic in Chiang Rai province, 1988-99

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) epidemic began in Asia late r than most in other regions but then spread very rapidly. Upper northern T hailand was severely affected, with among the highest infection rates in As ia. The first 12 years of the HIV epidemic in Chiang Pal, Thailand's northe rnmost 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 fem ale sex workers and one in six of 21-year-old male Royal Thai Army conscrip ts 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 a nd economic effects. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.