HIV/AIDS Conference in BKK

[Bangkokney]

I saw a report on CNN today and subsequently read articles in the BKK Post reference the conference.

I see that it is suggested that 1 in 4 registered cases of HIV/AIDS* are recorded in Asia.

Has anybody seen a breakdown on this statement : Geographically/Demographic and whether cases recorded are traced back to being contracted in Asia etc ?


* I personally believe HIV & AIDS are mutually exclusive ... but that's another story.

[ATAdmin]

Hey Bangkokney -

There is an amazing amount of information on this right now as you might imagine with the conference going on. For some overview statistics I would suggest the following article:

AIDS Fight Too Slow, Too Many Heads in Sand

Sadly Asia Times is suspiciously missing any coverage on this topic as of yet..? Will let you know if we put something together later today.

In related news check out:
A Global Goal some facts, costs and stats...

Anger at US ban on scientists More Americans with their head firmly cleched in their asses...

Thailand's success against AIDS now at risk
Focus Thailand: scary, but not a surprise...

Bangkokney, let me know what you think or if there is other information I can scout out for you - everyone is welcome to weigh in of course.

Best,

[Bangkokney]

Frightening to hear (scare mongering?) that on the latest CNN update 'nearly' 1/2 of all new cases are female ...'

Doesn't say how or where they contracted it though ...

[ATAdmin]

Scary indeed. Let's face it though - there's a helluva alot more women in the sex industry than men. These along with intravenous drug users are the most at risk. Furthermore, women in the sex industry are not the most clever when it comes to safe sex. That's why Thailand was really making ground in late 90's early 00's by simply educating their overwhleming industry of women. Sadly this work (and funding) to educate has waned a bit and it is starting to show it...

Finally the female function as the 'recepticle' (not trying to be harsh or innappropriate) of sexual fluid during intercourse (even before male ejaculation) makes them "10 times more likely" to contract the virus during unsafe sex. Where there is infinately less space or opportunity for the man in the same situation. The numbers I have heard were that a man has a "1 in 300 chance" of contracting the virus during unprotected sex - keeping the former in mind; that means women have about a 1 in 30 chance of becoming infected in the same type of encounter...

[ATAdmin]

Our conversation remined me of this article I read yesterday in the print edition of BKK Post, so I figured I'd look it up and get you a link.

A really sad story of a family being outcast for no reason other than ignorance. On of the biggest problem with the HIV/AIDS epidemic is the ignorance shown by people towards those who are sick and those closest to them... Sadly the article did little to dispel common myths and misunderstandings.

Read on: (Subscription, use: Username: EnigmaBurn Passowrd: enigma if you do not have a BKK Post login)

http://www.bangkokpost.com/110704_News/ ... news02.php

[Bangkokney]

ATAdmin ...

I read that article myself online, In part its what prompted my renewed interest in the subject.

As I pointed out on another thread I have a mate in BKK who is a US military doctor based on Thailand researching tropical diseases. Whilst HIV and AIDS (sic) are not his speciality he of course is pretty knowledgable on the subject. He tells me he rarely uses a condom as he always indulges in foreplay (cos he reckons he's a ladies man) and only has 'straight' penetrative sex. He suggests that it is almost impossible to contract HIV or AIDS in this manner.

Whilst I am not advocating that we all discards 'the skins of the fruits of love' and go bare back it IS another 'point of view' being taken by a well educated man.

[Bangkokney]

ATAdmin,

Your Global Goals article made interesting reading ...

Funny how people are no longer talking of a cure as they were only a few years back.

Interesting to see that a generic (and therefore intrinsically cheaper) copy of only one of the copyrighted branded 'cocktail' used to inhibit the virus is 'working' equally as well in trials. Hopefully Kofi will get his way and have this drug made widly avaiable.

[ATAdmin]

Yeah, it was a good article eh?

Urgh. Educated yes, sensible - maybe not; nothing agaist your friend of course. When I read your reply I couldn't help but make a low audible groan.

I have to agree, as is in line with the facts of my previous post, that his chances are far more slim than a female's. Still surprises that a doctor would take such risks. Understandably oral sex is far less risky for transmission than straight sex. This is because the virus is very prone to destruction once coming in contact with air, it muct be trasferred by fluids and preferrably (for the virus at least) with as little atmospheric contact as possible. This is why [straight] intercourse and intravenous drug use is the primary catalyst for infection. Now that being said, there are case whre oral sex has been attributed to infection. If either of the "givers" of oral sex cuts, abrasions, cold sores or bit their cheek a little hard accidentally during dinner - then transfer becomes increasingly possible for both parties. Again in the oral sex department, it is unlikely - but pssible nonetheless.

As for straight sex without a jimmy; c'mon we know better by now don't we? I never played the lotto (at home or here) as my odds are something like 1 in 10 million (maybe worse) right? You sure as hell better beleive that if I had a one in three hundred chance of wining the lotto I'd be buying tickets like Lev buys beers. Wouldn't do it - not a doctor; but studied chemical and biological enginneering, human physiology, wrote a research paper on AIDS, etc... Besides there are all sorts of little heebie-jeebies out there aside from HIV that could befall you. Most of them not pleaseant. Did you hear about the Syphillis strain speading that is resistant to normal antibiotic treatment? Not pretty...

Just, use your head when you use your head...