Laos officials say random screenings of almost 200,000 working-age people across the nation in the period between 1999 and late 2006 found that 2003 persons have been infected with the HIV/AIDS virus. Of that number, 688 people have died. The victims' age was in the 25-35 year-old range.
Officials say the three most affected provinces are Savannakhet with 913 infections, Vientiane with 316, and Champassack with 105, and that most infections resulted from participation in unsafe sex.
Listen to our Laos Today report for more details.
