Half of Americans living with HIV reside in areas highly susceptible to climate disasters, where extreme weather events disrupt access to life-saving treatments.Jessica Kutz reports for The 19th.In short:A report by the Center for American Progress reveals significant overlap between high HIV prevalence areas and regions vulnerable to climate disasters.Extreme weather events such as hurricanes, wildfires and flooding hinder access to medications and care, particularly in low-income and socially disadvantaged communities.Stigma surrounding HIV further complicates care during evacuations, as some patients fear disclosing their status to family or shelter providers.Key quote:“These are people who are going through extremely stressful, life-destroying situations and they have to do the emotional calculation of, ‘will disclosing this make me less safe?’”— Haley Norris, policy analyst, Center for American ProgressWhy this matters:Climate change intensifies the challenges faced by people with HIV, amplifying existing health inequities. Disruptions in care can increase viral loads and risk drug resistance, threatening public health. Better disaster preparedness and flexible support systems are essential to safeguard these vulnerable populations.Related EHN coverage:
Extreme weather complicates HIV care in high-risk US areas
