Thailand's HIV cases exceed 1 million

Rising HIV infection rates, particularly among young adults, pushed Thailand's cumulative recorded number of HIV cases past the 1 million mark this fall, according to Thai health officials. Deutsche Presse-Agentur reports that 430,000 people in the country have died of AIDS during the past 20 years and that about 70,000 current HIV cases are among young adults ages 15-24. "The main factor in the spread of HIV/AIDS among youths is sexual relations before marriage without protection," said health minister Sudarat Keyuraphan. The nation's health ministry is planning several activities and programs aimed at young adults as part of its World AIDS Day events to be held on December 1.