In a disturbing trend, the state of Yucatán has emerged as one of the top five regions with the highest incidence rate of HIV cases in Mexico. According to recent data from the Ministry of Health and Repavih, the Network of People Affected by HIV, the number of new diagnoses among young people is cause for concern.
Pablo Alemán Góngora, president of Repavih, warns that the rise in HIV cases among adolescents and young adults is a major public health issue. “This alarming trend requires immediate attention to prevent further spread of the virus,” he emphasized.
The data reveals that individuals aged 25-29 have been diagnosed with the highest number of HIV cases, while there has also been an increase among adolescents aged 15-19. In March alone, more than 300 new cases were reported in Yucatán, equivalent to one case every seven hours.
Mexico-wide, the Ministry of Health’s historical report on HIV epidemiology shows a slight decrease in diagnoses from 2023 to 2024, with 15,798 cases reported last year. However, Yucatán and Quintana Roo have seen an increase in incidence rates compared to 2023.
The state of Yucatán has the second-highest incidence rate among Mexico’s states, behind only Quintana Roo. Mérida is the municipality with the highest number of confirmed HIV cases, followed by Kanasín, Progreso, Tizimín, and Umán.
According to Repavih, age group distribution shows that 139 cases were diagnosed among individuals aged 25-29, while 112 cases were reported among those aged 20-24. A total of 28 cases have been diagnosed in adolescents aged 15-19.
The alarming rise in HIV cases among young people and adolescents highlights the need for increased awareness, education, and prevention efforts to combat this growing public health concern.
Source: La Silla Rota
