HIV Infections Rising in the Younger Population of Asia Pacific
The Asia Pacific region saw an alarming spike of HIV infections among young people aged 15-24 years old, with up to 47% of total new infections surfacing within this group. This sparked serious concerns and prompted various other countries to further invest in prevention and intervention methods.
This Pacific Prime Thailand article will delve into the alarming surge of HIV infections in the younger population in the Asia Pacific Region.
Introduction to HIV
HIV, short for the human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. Left untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency disease). Common symptoms include flu-like symptoms within two to four weeks of infection and can last for a few days to several weeks.
As the immune system weakens, the infected person becomes more susceptible to other life-threatening diseases or cancers.
The scary part is some people may not show any symptoms at all, so the only surefire way to know if you have HIV or not is to get tested. HIV can commonly spread through sex or shared needles and other drug injection equipment.
You can easily prevent HIV by using condoms every time you have sex and refraining from sharing drug injection equipment.
Overview: Asia Pacific’s HIV Spike in the Younger People
In light of the recent alarming surge in HIV infections in younger people in the Asia Pacific region, according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)’ Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe regional director, Eamonn Murphy, various countries need to further invest in prevention and intervention methods.
Murphy added, new HIV diagnoses were mainly among younger people aged 15-24 years old, with 47% of total new infections surfacing within this group.
The Second Wave of HIV
Thailand is not the only country in Asia Pacific experiencing an HIV infection in younger people, as the UNAIDS also noticed a second wave of HIV infections in young people in other countries within the region.
According to Murphy, as he told Bangkok Post on the sidelines of the 25th International Aids Conference (AIDS 2024) last month in Munich, Germany, most of the infection in the Philippines are in that age range and particularly with “men having sex with men and transgender”, there was a “500% increase in HIV infections in the Philippines since 2010”.
Other countries experiencing a surge in HIV infections in younger people beyond the Phillippines include Myanmar, Indonesia, as well as Cambodia, all of which saw half of their new HIV infections affecting the younger population, which led the UNAIDS to label this as a “phenomenon that’s happening across the region”.
The U=U Campaign
Murphy also strongly urged countries in the Asia Pacific region to promote and conduct large-scale campaigns akin to Vietnam’s U=U campaign. The U=U campaign, which stands for “Undetectable = Untransmittable”, is an informational campaign about the effectiveness of HIV medications in preventing sexual transmission.
Hence its full “Undetectable = Untransmittable” name, if an HIV-infected person is on medications such as antiretroviral therapy (ART) with a consistently undetectable HIV viral load, the virus can’t be transmitted to a sex partner. This prevention strategy is referred to as Treatment as Prevention (TasP).
Murphy stated that the campaign, designed to stop people from fearing HIV and those living with it, can change society’s attitudes, helping people feel safer when visiting a clinic or undergoing testing for prevention.
Additionally, the Institute of HIV Research and Innovation (IHRI)’s executive director, Dr. Nittaya Phanupak, expressed interest in the Thai government supporting the campaign. She added by emphasizing communities and families of people with HIV should have equal rights in HIV prevention to everyone else.
Conclusion
Beyond Thailand, other countries within the Asia Pacific region such as the Philippines, Myanmar, and Cambodia, also saw an alarming surge in HIV infections in younger individuals aged 15-24. This not only led to the UNAIDS labeling it as a regional phenomenon, but also prompted other countries to further invest in prevention and intervention.
One of those prevention and intervention methods, which the UNAIDS’ Eamonn Murphy strongly urged other countries to follow, is the U=U campaign, which is an informational campaign about the effectiveness of HIV medications in the prevention of sexual transmission. The program can change society’s perception and help people feel more confident going to clinics for prevention.
Even though Thailand and the rest of the Asia Pacific region is struggling with the rising HIV infections in younger people, you can always craft yourself a safety net with a health insurance plan. Having the right health insurance plan will help alleviate financial stress and reduce medical costs in the event of unexpected illnesses or injuries.
While finding the right health insurance plan can prove daunting, particularly amidst the alarming surge of HIV infections, and with so many to choose from at different price ranges and coverage tiers, plan comparisons don’t always have to be a nightmare and that’s where we come in.
As an experienced international health insurance broker, Pacific Prime Thailand has helped both local citizens and expats find a suitable health insurance plan, such as travel, international, maternity plans, and more, that ticks the boxes for both their budget range and specific healthcare needs.
Whether you’re an expat living in Thailand or a local Thai citizen yourself looking for adequate healthcare in the land of smiles, our team of specialists will be more than happy to help you out. If you have any further questions, get in touch with us or get a free quote here.
He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts, Media & Communication major (concentration: Creative Content) from Mahidol University International College (MUIC). During the compulsory major elective period in the summer of 2021 and voluntarily during the summer of 2022, he also interned as a video and photo editor at Mbrella Films.
He has experience working as an English Content Writer at a real estate buying/renting/selling platform in Thonglor. There, he crafted company blog posts on a multitude of topics. Topics include market trends, legal issues and disputes in property businesses, financial guides, expat guides, home insurance, home decoration and maintenance, and weekly real estate news quick-recaps. Occasionally, as part of the blog-writing process, he would also translate existing Thai blogs to English.
In his free time, Guy enjoys doing scriptwriting and storytelling for comic strips, watching movies, and listening to music (particularly film scores).
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