Year begins with HIV up 150% in Yucatán

Mérida marks a previous World AIDS Day. Photo: file

Mérida, Yucatán — In the first 20 days of 2018, 18 new cases of HIV infections and 11 AIDS cases were reported in the state, according to the  National Center for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS (Censida).

Yucatán ranks third in the country in HIV diagnoses.

The numbers, though reflecting a small window, are disheartening. Last year in the same timeframe, less than half — seven HIV cases and three AIDS infections — were reported.

In Yucatán state, 4,786 people are living with AIDS. For 2017, the General Directorate of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health reported 523 new HIV cases — 454 men and 69 women — and 201 people were found to have AIDS — 171 men and 30 women.

Dr. Carlos Cabrera May, director of Fundación BAI, A.C., pointed out that despite prevention campaigns, there is much to still be done to prevent young people from continuing to contract sexually transmitted infections.

The doctor also commented that due to a shortcoming of internal administrative procedures, the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) has a shortage of retroviral drugs that HIV patients require. That puts these patients at risk of  health complications.

Tabasco has the most HIV cases, with 14.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants; followed by Campeche, with 14; Yucatán, with 12.3; Veracruz, with 9.4, and Colima, with 8.2.

Source: SIPSE

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