Interactive Map Shows the Impact of HIV Across All States

AIDSVu released an interactive map displaying the impact of HIV across the country. According to the findings, nearly two-thirds of all new HIV diagnoses that happened in 2015 occurred in 2.5 percent of counties. 

The data was collected from the latest available data at all levels — city, county, and state. And as reported by AIDSVu, they findings were quite interesting. For example:  

Southern States Experience the Greatest Burden of Infection and Deaths: The Southern U.S. is home to nearly 37 percent of the country’s population, but these states account for more than half of all new HIV diagnoses (52 percent) and deaths (49 percent) among persons diagnosed with HIV. Furthermore, the five U.S. cities with the highest rates of new HIV diagnoses (Miami, FL; Jackson, MS; New Orleans, LA; Baton Rouge, LA; and Atlanta, GA) are all located in the South.
Racial Disparities in HIV Infection Continue with African Americans Most Impacted: While making up just 12 percent of the U.S. population, African American persons accounted for 45 percent of all new HIV diagnoses in 2015.
HIV Diagnoses Among Youth Continue to Rise: While the number of new HIV diagnoses among all persons in the U.S. decreased by 18 percent between 2008 and 2015, new diagnoses among youth (aged 13 to 24) increased by 2 percent.

"AIDSVu illustrates that where you live matters when it comes to being at risk for HIV infection," the website states. "This year’s maps tell the story of the long-term disproportionate  impact of HIV in the Southern U.S., as well as areas of the country where new patterns of HIV transmission are emerging, including Scott County, Indiana, where an HIV outbreak related to opioid and injection drug abuse resulted in over 150 individuals becoming infected with HIV in 2014 to 2015."

Check out the map below: