354,000 Thais got HIV in past 25 years

       The total number of infections is 354,000, and 94,800 patients have died from the sexually transmitted disease from 1984 to August this year, said Suphan Srithamma, the Public Health Ministry spokesman.
       Most of those infected, or 63%, are aged between 25-39.
       This year alone, 1,980 people have become HIV-positive.
       The ministry's HIV/Aids update came two days after the Disease Control Department disclosed the result of an HIV vaccine trial carried out in Thailand.
       The results of the trial show the vaccine has 31.2% effectiveness in preventing HIV/Aids infections.
       Dr Suphan said the HIV infection rate among male sex workers,12.21%, continues to rise.
       Infection rates in the other groups surveyed are falling or have recorded little change, according to the ministry's latest study on HIV infections, conducted last year.
       Among female sex workers, those who worked at a brothel tended to have a significantly lower infection rate than those working independently and secretly, said the doctor.
       That has raised concerns over the risk of HIV transmission from informal female sex workers to male clients and their wives, said Dr Suphan. More condom use campaigns are needed to help curb infections, he said.
       The HIV infection rate among alien workers, fishermen, and drug users was 1.24%,2.5% and 48.15% respectively, a small change on the previous year.