Late HIV Diagnosis Drives Preventable Deaths in Latin America

Mexico has documented over 187,000 HIV cases over the past 11 years, according to new epidemiological data from the Ministry of Health, as regional and international organizations warn that delayed detection continues to increase preventable deaths and undermine treatment goals across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The historical surveillance report, released in observance of World AIDS Day, shows that HIV transmission in Mexico remains concentrated among young adults and men, while workplace, social, and structural barriers continue to limit access to early testing. “Every year, 38,000 lives are lost in the Americas from causes related to HIV. Behind each figure is a story, a family, a dream cut short,” says Jarbas Barbosa, Director, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

The Ministry of Health’s report documents 187,596 notified HIV cases from 2014 to Nov. 17, 2025. Men account for 84.4% of reported diagnoses during this period. In 2025 alone, Mexico registered 16,323 new cases, down from 18,895 in 2024. Quintana Roo, Baja California Sur, Yucatan, Colima, and Tabasco report the highest rates of new diagnoses per 100,000 inhabitants, while the State of Mexico, Veracruz, Mexico City, and Jalisco represent the largest share of cumulative cases. Transmission remains primarily sexual, representing nearly 99% of cases in which the mechanism of infection is known.

Young people continue to be disproportionately affected. Individuals ages 25 to 29 account for the highest number of diagnoses, followed by those 30 to 34 and 20 to 24. Among people ages 15 to 24, authorities registered 3,479 cases in 2025, with an incidence of about 27.5 per 100,000 young men and 4.0 among young women. Of all people diagnosed between 2014 and 2025, the report states that 174,034 remain alive and 12,679 have died. National mortality data from INEGI shows that 4,953 deaths in 2023 were linked to HIV.

Public-health agencies say these trends reflect gaps in testing coverage. PAHO estimates that one in three people with HIV in the region are diagnosed late, contributing to opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis and fungal diseases. Although access to antiretroviral therapy has expanded and treatment regimens have been simplified, awareness of HIV status remains a major barrier. About 14% of people with HIV in Latin America do not know they are infected. PAHO is urging governments to extend rapid testing, broaden access to PrEP and PEP, and consider long-acting options such as injectable lenacapavir to reduce transmission.

Structural and social factors continue to limit testing among men, who represent the majority of Mexico’s cases. Long working hours, mobility, stigma, and lack of privacy often discourage them from visiting clinics. Worker-focused testing initiatives have emerged as an effective way to reach these populations. The International Labour Organization’s VCT@WORK model brings voluntary HIV testing directly to workplaces across sectors including transportation, construction, mining, logistics, and seasonal agriculture. By integrating testing into work routines and emphasizing confidentiality, these programs aim to help men test without losing wages or exposing their health status.

Peer educators — colleagues trained to provide information and counseling — have played a central role in expanding testing uptake. Worker protections outlined in ILO Recommendation 200 prevent employers from mandating HIV testing or using HIV status to deny employment or promotion. These safeguards, combined with employer participation and union involvement, create environments that reduce stigma and encourage voluntary testing. HIV self-testing (HIVST) has also gained traction. Workers can test privately, at their convenience, a feature that has been particularly effective among truck drivers and other mobile workers. “Going for an HIV test was difficult for me. HIV self-testing made it convenient. It also ensures confidentiality,” a truck driver reported in an ILO case study.

Technology is also reshaping early detection efforts. In Mexico City, Tecnológico de Monterrey and the Translational Institute of Genomic Singularity inaugurated a Genomic and Clinical Innovation Unit capable of processing up to 14,000 genetic tests per day. The facility aims to strengthen precision diagnostics for viral, bacterial and fungal infections. Initial projects include a portable platform to measure HIV-1 viral loads in low-infrastructure settings and an AI-based system for sepsis diagnosis. The Ministry of Economy says the initiative is intended to translate scientific research into diagnostic tools that support public-health objectives.

Mexico’s Ministry of Health is also working to expand post-exposure prophylaxis availability and improve services for survivors of sexual violence, noting that immediate access to care should not depend on filing a legal complaint. The measures align with PAHO’s World AIDS Day campaign, “Zero AIDS Deaths by 2030,” which calls for coordinated action to close the testing gap and reduce preventable mortality across the Americas. PAHO will present the Regional Alliance for the Elimination of HIV in the Americas on Dec. 5, reinforcing efforts to integrate innovation, workplace participation and health-system improvements into national HIV responses.