Youth hit hard as total HIV cases exceed 500,000
published : 3 Sep 2026 at 07:51
writer: Gary Boyle
ORIGINAL SOURCE/WRITER: Post Reporters
Thailand has recorded more than 500,000 cumulative HIV infections, with 13 provinces reporting more than 10,000 cases each, according to fiscal 2026 data.
The figures, running until the third quarter, show Bangkok with the highest cumulative total at 88,535 cases, followed by Chon Buri with 31,072 and Chiang Mai with 23,949.
Other provinces with more than 10,000 cases are Chiang Rai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Khon Kaen, Pathum Thani, Udon Thani, Rayong, Songkhla and Ubon Ratchathani. Songkhla recorded 10,644 cumulative cases.
Officials said infections in the region were concentrated among young people and the working-age population, with unprotected sex remaining a major factor.
Young people aged 15–24 are a particular concern nationwide, with more than 25,000 cumulative infections reported in the age group.
Despite the high caseload, more than 83% of people receiving HIV care are on continuous antiretroviral treatment and have achieved effective viral suppression, reducing the risk of serious illness and onward transmission.
Officials in Songkhla are promoting HIV testing and counselling, distributing education materials and providing screening services.
Health authorities said more efforts were needed to expand access to testing, encourage consistent condom use and ensure people living with HIV remain on antiretroviral treatment.
They said early diagnosis and continued treatment reduced infections and improved the long-term health of people with HIV.
Vocabulary
- case: a particular situation or a situation of a particular type - กรณี, เหตุการณ์, สถานการณ์
- condom (noun): a thin rubber covering that a man wears over his penis during sex to stop a woman from becoming pregnant or to protect against disease - ถุงยาง
- cumulative: increasing by one addition after another - ทับทวีขึ้น,สะสมขึ้น
- fiscal (adj.): connected with a budget; connected with the government budget, i.e., public money - เกี่ยวกับงบประมาณ
- HIV: HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It’s a virus that attacks the body’s immune system and is spread through sexual contact -
- infection: a disease or medical condition that is caused by a bacteria or by a virus or a parasite - การติดเชื้อ
- suppression (noun): preventing something from growing, developing or continuing - การขจัด, การหยุดยั้ง
- transmission: the spread of a disease from one person or animal to another - การแพร่เชื้อ
- unprotected (adj): not protected against being hurt or damaged - ไม่ได้ป้องกัน
- viral (adj.): related to a virus, coming from a virus - เกี่ยวกับไวรัส, ซึ่งเกิดจากไวรัส



