Mexico's Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell admitted in a recent report that HIV represents an additional challenge in the battle against COVID-19 because half the people who have the human immunodeficiency virus are unaware of it.

Hypertension and diabetes remain the highest factors that increased the chances of mortality among COVID-19 patients. According to the health ministry, of the 686 deaths recently recorded from COVID-19 in Mexico, 43.15 percent of them had hypertension, while 38 percent had diabetes.

Meanwhile, five patients who had HIV have also died, according to López-Gatell.

He added that COVID-19 might join the list of "opportunistic diseases" that worsen the immune system.

"Unfortunately, a significant proportion of people with HIV do not know their status until they have had an erosion of the immune system," he warned.

As of 2018, there were about 10,581 new cases of HIV notified across Mexico with a prevalence rate of 20 percent. 

The Deputy Health Minister emphasized the need for HIV patients to tests for the virus, which is free.

READ: Residents of Mexico Are At Higher Risk for COVID-19, Says Health Professionals

According to the CDC, the risk for people with HIV getting very sick is highest in:

  • People with a low CD4 cell count, and
  • People not on HIV treatment (antiretroviral therapy or ART).

Age and other medical conditions are also factors why HIV patients can be at increased risk of getting very sick with COVID-19.

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As of this writing, there is no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 or even a universal cure. To avoid getting sick, the best way is to avoid exposure to the virus by following these steps recommended by the CDC:

  • Make sure you have at least a 30-day supply of your HIV medicine and any other medications or medical supplies you need for managing HIV.
  • Talk to your health care provider and make sure all your vaccinations are up-to-date, including vaccinations against seasonal influenza and bacterial pneumonia, because these vaccine-preventable diseases disproportionally affect people with HIV.
  • Establish a plan for clinical care if you have to stay at home for a couple of weeks. Try to establish a telemedicine link through your HIV care provider's online portal. If telemedicine is not available to you, make sure you can communicate with your provider by phone or text.
  • Make sure you can maintain a social network remotely, such as online, by phone, or by video chat. This can help you stay socially connected and mentally healthy, which is especially crucial for people with HIV.
  • People with HIV can sometimes be more likely than others to need extra help, from friends, family, neighbors, community health workers, and others. If you become sick, make sure you stay in touch by phone or email with people who can help you.

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While there is a long-standing stigma against HIV, such as indicated in one study from Mexico where 11 percent of transgender women living with HIV were excluded from family activities, those with COVID-19 are now facing the same predicament.

To combat the stigma and misinformation and to help prevent the spread of rumors about HIV and COVID-19, it is imperative to educate yourself by reading and understanding the nature of these viruses.