Health authorities in Chiang Mai are raising the alarm over the province's ongoing HIV crisis, declaring approximately 23,900 cumulative infections and nearly 700 new cases annually, averaging almost two new transmissions every day.
According to the Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Office, the virus has moved beyond traditional risk groups to affect broader communities.
Vulnerable populations, particularly migrant workers and ethnic minority groups, face severe obstacles to accessing healthcare, including language barriers, lack of legal documentation, limited treatment rights and fear of social stigma, causing many to delay testing and care.
The situation is especially acute among marginalised workers.
Health officials highlighted a 3.6% HIV prevalence rate among ethnic minority men in sex work, underscoring critical gaps in access to targeted prevention and healthcare services.
Young people, aged 15 to 24, are another group of growing concern. Nationally, roughly half of all new HIV infections, 49%, occur within this age group.
Officials attribute this surge among youth to shifting sexual behaviors, insufficient awareness of prevention methods and a shortage of youth-friendly medical facilities.
Meanwhile, adults aged 25 to 49 still represent the largest total volume of new cases. As the most socially and sexually active demographic, health agency efforts remain focused on expanding their routine testing, education and long-term treatment access.
Changing social dynamics in the digital era are further compounding transmission risks. Local data reveals that 61.9% of men who have sex with men (MSM) in the province use dating applications to find casual sexual partners.
Public health experts warn that this trend increases exposure not only to HIV, but also to other sexually transmitted infections and emerging threats like ‘Mpox’.
Addressing the crisis will require dismantling healthcare inequalities for marginalised and high-risk populations, officials stressed.
The health office is calling for expanded public education via digital channels, reduced social stigma, broader availability of HIV testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and immediate antiretroviral treatment.
