Thousands of lads flock to the Thai beach city of Pattaya for cheap and easy sex each year.
Hordes of men have flocked to the resort with the promise of beautiful women, cheap luxury property, warm weather and cold beer on tap.
But hookers working in “Sin City” have been accused of using fake certificates saying they’re HIV free in a country where rates of infection are among some of the highest in the world.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that damages the cells in your immune system and weakens your ability to fight everyday infections and disease.
There’s currently no cure for HIV, but there are very effective drug treatments that enable most people with the virus to live a long and healthy life.
In a country where it was estimated 450,000 people were living with HIV in 2016, some escorts have taken measures to reassure punters they’re safe for a hook up.
Some prostitutes even post pictures of their “HIV-free” certificates on websites where they advertise their services.
But HIV experts aren’t convinced. Brigette Bard, Founder and CEO of BioSure HIV Self Test exclusively told Daily Star Online: “I’m not sure I would trust that.“I’m not sure how reliant that is at all.“
I guess having it on a website does show an awareness and it might be a conversation generator but I’m not sure I would actually trust that – particularly with it being uploaded online.
“Someone adverting they are HIV free suggests they are very open to having unprotected sex with clients,” which Brigette says is very dangerous.
Thailand’s HIV epidemic is concentrated among certain key populations.
Those most affected are men who have sex with men, sex workers, transgender people and people who inject drugs.
Of all new infections in 2016, around 10% occurred among sex workers and their clients.
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