I highly doubt the HIV figures among the gay community in Penang are signficantly lower than they are in Bangkok.

But even if they were, say, 5% compared to the claimed 30% here, would you have any different advice for them? I hope not, because all it would mean is that one in 20 of their contacts in Penang would be HIV positive compared to 1 in 3 in Bangkok.

In other words, big deal! Even if they had only one contact a month, it would still take them less than two years to run into an HIV+ sex partner in Penang...and they're still dead if they are unsafe.

Bottom line: if they're doing anything unsafe in Penang that they're also doing in Bangkok, they're dead meat. They have to be safe in both places, and with whomever they fuck -- I don't care if it's a prostitute, a virgin schoolboy, or Mother Theresa. Make sure they understand that, then show them the time of their lives in Bangkok without fear and without guilt.

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I am so sorry that it was so hard to understand from my post that I simply did not want the responsibility of taking my friends to a place where there is a much higher risk of AIDS.

__________________
Urepentantly irrascible old fart!

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If it is HIV or Aids you are worried about, it is not matter of WHERE you bring your friends, but WHAT they do! In order to be infected with HIV you need to have unprotected sex with someone who is already infected. As you are not able to see who is HIV positive, the best way to protect yourself is to not engage in unprotected sex. As simple as that. Enjoy your trip with your friends.

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-- Taoboxer,
- One appreciates the possibly sensitive pos'n. in wch. you may find yourself, and your natural and u'standable. reluctance to expose your friends to any risks of picking-up AIDS..
- But your friends are aware adults, aren't they?
- After you'll have advised them about any potential risks here in BKK., whether from unprotected sex, having something slipped into their drinks or whatever, they should then be able to make-up their own minds about risky activities, shouldn't they?
- You advise them, concluding with that all too well-known BKK. saying of: 'Up to you.'! Then they have the choice, don't they?
-- bibi. --

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-- The flg. is condensed from a BLOOMBERG article in today's 'BKK. Post.' -

-- HIV. uses the protein Integrin Alpha4Beta7. in an early phase of infection when the virus invades and grows in the human gut's lymph tissues.
- The virus disables the Human Immune System by targeting its T-Cells, leaving patients vulnerable to many other and subsequent infections.
- Much of the destruction of the lymphatic tissues occurs early on in the course of the disease. One of the earliest events that occurs with HIV. infection is the depletion of memory of the T-Cells in the human gut.
- It is believed that the level of of the virus that becomes established in human blood and tissues early in infection - the Viral Set Point. - will determine the severity of the patient's case - hence it's important to try and lower the patient's VSP.. Blocking the A4B7. may offer such a path.
- Why is there this association between the human gut and the HIV. virus? It is believed that the A4B7. is the prime homing receptor of the lymphoid tissues in the human gut.
- Another molecule involved with HIV's. attackand early entry into the cells is CCR5., wch. is blocked by Pf*z*r's 'Selzentry.' medication - wch. is the first such new type of HIV. drug to be approved in MORE than ten years.

-- Further info. may be found in the journal: 'Nature Immunology.'.

-- E&OE.. I write as a non-medical person. -- bibi.. --

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