Angela Onwuzoo Medical experts have identified Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and glomerulonephritis as three major factors responsible for the rise in kidney diseases across the globe. The experts also blamed the surge on unhealthy diets, particularly processed foods. According to the World Health Organisation, kidney diseases are now the 10th leading cause of death globally, stating that mortality has increased from 813,000 in 2000 to 1.3 million in 2019. The Nigeria Association of Nephrology says about 20 million Nigerians are presently living with chronic kidney diseases. Speaking with PUNCH HealthWise in an exclusive interview on the worrisome rise, a Consultant Nephrologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Dr. Theophilus Umeizudike, identified an increase in Type 2 diabetes which he blamed on the consumption of processed and unhealthy foods as a major cause of kidneys diseases globally. Umeizudike also blamed the rise in kidney diseases on hypertension and glomerulonephritis. The nephrologist explained, “Globally, the cause mainly is because of the increase in Type 2 diabetes which is also rising in our environment. “The reason why Type 2 diabetes is rising globally is because of people abandoning natural foods for processed foods. “So, processed foods are the reasons why people are coming down with Type 2 diabetes and people with Type 2 diabetes come down with kidney diseases later in life. Hypertension is also increasing cases of kidney diseases.” The kidney specialist noted that kidney diseases were on the rise in Nigeria. “In our clime, we have a very young population that are prone to many infections and inflammatory conditions that can affect the kidneys. “Oftentimes, the early signs of infection or inflammation of the kidney are silent. So, years down the line, these things begin to manifest. “In sub-Saharan Africa, we have glomerulonephritis that affects the kidney. It causes kidney damage over months or years usually within a period of five to 10 years. There are viral infections like hepatitis B, C, and HIV that cause kidney diseases”, he said. The nephrologist also attributed the surge in kidney diseases to a lack of access to affordable healthcare. Umeizudike said, “Another cause is that many of these young people do not have access to affordable healthcare. So, they resort to alternative therapies like herbal remedies which can damage their kidneys. “Again, we have a predisposition to coming down with kidney diseases as people of African origin because of gene mutation.” On how people can avoid coming down with kidney diseases, the nephrologist enjoined them to embrace a healthy lifestyle and to go for regular health checks for early detection and proper management. Umeizudike explained that when people keep living on processed foods, the tendency to come down with kidney diseases is high. “Eating processed foods pushes people to Type 2 diabetes and increases the risk of kidney diseases later on in life”, he reiterated. According to him, for someone to know whether he has a kidney issue, the person must go and do a test, adding that without a medical test, kidney diseases cannot be detected. He noted, “Medical tests are very important because early forms of kidney disease are completely asymptomatic. Once people start having symptoms of kidney disease, it means that it has advanced which will then require dialysis or transplant.” He pointed out that everybody should be worried about kidney diseases, assuring however that the risks of kidney diseases could be reduced or avoided through regular health checks and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. According to him, people in their 20s are coming down with kidney diseases. Also, a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist, Cynthia Onyekwere, told PUNCH HealthWise that an unhealthy diet was a major contributing factor to the onset of kidney diseases. The dietician explained, “For one to keep kidney diseases away, it is important to pay close attention to his/her diet and make some dietary adjustments by mainly reducing intake of certain foods that can affect renal function negatively. “One of such foods to be reduced is salt. Salt contains sodium which when consumed in excess can cause high blood pressure which can lead to kidney damage. “To achieve a reduced salt intake, one can start by reducing the amount of salt and stock cubes used in cooking, stop adding salt to meals when eating, and limit intakes of pastries and salty snacks. “Also, processed foods can also affect renal function and as such should be consumed in limited amounts. Examples of processed foods include canned meat as well as canned fruits and vegetables. They should be consumed sparingly as they contain a lot of sodium.” Speaking further, Onyekwere noted, “Too much intake of protein can damage the kidneys. Although protein is required for the repair of worn-out tissues and the build-up of new ones, when consumed excessively, it is harmful to the kidneys. This is because it is the kidney that helps the body to get rid of the waste products that are generated after the digestion of protein. “Eating too much protein will place more burden on the kidneys and this can progressively cause damage. People must also be wary of herbal concoctions to ensure optimal renal function. Herbal concoctions in water or alcohol extracts contain substances that may be toxic to the kidneys.” Copyright PUNCH All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: health_wise@punchng. com Tags glomerulonephritis hypertension Kidney diseases type 2 diabetes WHOnine 99bet 。

Haryana govt amends CET policy removes bonus marks based on socioeconomic criteriaPope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about one hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by an issue with a vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled. Haiti gangs fire on journalists covering a planned hospital reopening, leaving casualties PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Suspected gang members have opened fire on journalists in Haiti’s capital as they were covering the attempted reopening of the country’s largest hospital, wounding or killing an unknown number of people. The country's interim president, Leslie Voltaire, said in an address to the nation that journalists and police were among the victims of the vicious Christmas Eve attack. He did not specify how many casualties there were, or give a breakdown for the dead or wounded. Radio Télé Métronome said earlier on Tuesday that seven journalists and two police officers were wounded in the shooting. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Middle East latest: Israeli raid and airstrikes in West Bank kill at least 8 Palestinians The Palestinian Health Ministry says at least eight people were killed by Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank. The ministry said three of the dead were killed by Israeli airstrikes. The attacks took place around the city of Tulkarem and nearby refugee camps. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of some uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. Elsewhere in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian city of Bethlehem was marking a somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of the war in Gaza. Most festivities were cancelled and crowds of tourists were absent. Caitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. NFL players who use platform to share their faith say it's their duty to spread their love of Jesus ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Jake Bates was standing on the turf in his hometown of Houston when asked to reflect on an unlikely journey from learning how to sell bricks to making game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions. Bates used his platform as an NFL player to spread his love of Jesus. A month later, Bates told The Associated Press it is a duty to share his faith. The NFL is filled with players and coaches who feel the same way, such as Houston's C.J. Stroud, Atlanta's Kirk Cousins, and Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens. Major storm pounds California's central coast, blamed for man's death and partially collapsing pier SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A major storm has pounded California’s central coast bringing flooding and high surf that was blamed for fatally trapping a man beneath debris on a beach and later partially collapsing a pier, tossing three people into the Pacific Ocean. The storm was expected to bring hurricane-force winds and waves up to 60 feet Monday as it gained strength from California to the Pacific Northwest. Some California cities have ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon. Forecasters have warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day. Medellin Cartel victims demand truth and justice as cartel boss Fabio Ochoa walks free in Colombia BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — The return of the notorious drug trafficker Fabio Ochoa to Colombia, following his deportation from the United States, has reopened old wounds among the victims of the Medellin cartel, with some expressing their dismay at the decision of Colombian authorities to let the former mafia boss walk free.Some of the cartel victims said on Tuesday that they are hoping the former drug lord will at least cooperate with ongoing efforts by human rights groups to investigate one of the most violent periods of Colombia’s history, and demanded that Colombian prosecutors also take Ochoa in for questioning.

Strong top and bottom-line results driven by ongoing strength of the Marketing & Distribution segment Operating cash flow for full year fiscal 2024 increased by $64.2 million versus fiscal 2023 OXNARD, Calif., Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mission Produce, Inc. AVO ("Mission" or the "Company"), a world leader in sourcing, producing, and distributing fresh Hass avocados with additional offerings in mangos and blueberries, today reported its financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter ended October 31, 2024. Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Overview: Total revenue increased 37% to $354.4 million compared to the same period last year Net income of $17.3 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, compared to $4.0 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the same period last year Adjusted net income of $19.6 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, compared to $7.5 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for the same period last year Adjusted EBITDA increased 113% to $36.9 million, compared to $17.3 million in the same period last year Full Year 2024 Financial Overview Total revenue increased 29% to $1.23 billion compared to prior year, primarily driven by higher average per-unit avocado sales prices. Blueberries and mangos also contributed to growth as industry supply constraints supported a higher pricing environment Net income of $36.7 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $(2.8) million or $(0.04) per diluted share in the prior year Adjusted net income of $52.8 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, compared to $13.3 million, or $0.19 per diluted share last year Adjusted EBITDA increased 123% to $107.8 million compared to $48.4 million in the prior year driven primarily by stronger per-unit gross profit performance from the Marketing & Distribution and Blueberries segments, the latter of which correlated directly to the higher pricing environment experienced during the fiscal year Owned exportable avocado production volume decreased approximately 60% to 43 million pounds for the 2024 harvest season; volume was negatively impacted by weather-related events in the current year Cash flow from operations was $93.4 million compared to $29.2 million in the prior year CEO Message "Mission delivered a strong fourth quarter that rounded out an exceptional full year fiscal 2024 performance where we realized $1.23 billion in revenue and generated $107.8 million in adjusted EBITDA, demonstrating the strength of our business model and industry leading positioning," stated Steve Barnard, CEO of Mission. "As previously announced, our Marketing & Distribution segment drove the strong fourth quarter performance, successfully leveraging our global sourcing network amid a sustained higher pricing environment to achieve per-unit margins exceeding our targeted range. The positive impact of our fourth quarter performance combined with our solid operational execution across the fiscal year drove a $64.2 million increase in operating cash flow versus fiscal 2023, further strengthening our capital structure and enhancing our flexibility." Mr. Barnard continued, "Looking ahead to fiscal 2025, we will continue to focus on operational excellence, strategic growth initiatives, and sound capital allocation to drive shareholder value. While we anticipate some pricing moderation as additional supply sources become available, this environment typically supports increased consumption, and we remain well-positioned to capitalize on this growth through our unique capability to provide consistent year-round avocado supply. Beyond avocados, we are also excited about growing our mango program and expanding our presence in blueberries this year, both of which leverage our existing assets and capabilities while providing additional long-term growth opportunities." Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2024 Consolidated Financial Review Total revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased $96.5 million or 37% to $354.4 million compared to the same period last year. The increase was primarily driven by the Marketing & Distribution segment, where average per-unit avocado sales prices increased 36% on relatively flat avocado volume sold. These price and volume dynamics resulted from constrained avocado supply during the quarter due to weather impacts on fruit development and production in Peru. Despite lower Peruvian volumes, the Company effectively leveraged its diverse sourcing network across California, Colombia, and Mexico to drive a 9% increase in North American avocado sales volumes compared to the prior year. Mission's strategic decision to prioritize the North American market, combined with strong consumer demand at higher price points and retail promotional activity contributed to the favorable pricing dynamics. Gross profit increased $28.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 to $55.8 million, compared to the same period last year, and gross profit percentage increased 490 basis points, to 15.7% of revenue. The increases were primarily attributed to strong per-unit margins on avocados sold in the Marketing and Distribution segment. The Blueberries segment also contributed to the increase with higher volumes while per-unit margins remained generally consistent with the prior year. Selling, general and administrative expense ("SG&A") for the fourth quarter increased $6.6 million or 32% to $27.2 million, compared to the same period last year primarily due to higher employee related costs, including performance-based incentive compensation and stock-based compensation expense and statutory profit-sharing expense. Higher performance-based incentive compensation is largely explained by the Company's improved operating performance for the fiscal year relative to the prior year. Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was $17.3 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, compared to $4.0 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the same period last year. Adjusted net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was $19.6 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, compared to $7.5 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA was $36.9 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of $19.6 million or 113% as compared to $17.3 million in the prior year period, driven primarily by stronger per-unit gross profit performance from the Marketing & Distribution and Blueberries segments. Fiscal Fourth Quarter Business Segment Performance Marketing & Distribution Net sales in the Marketing & Distribution segment increased 35% to $319.6 million for the fourth quarter, driven by avocado pricing increases as described previously. Segment adjusted EBITDA increased $14.8 million or 137% to $25.6 million, primarily due to improved per-unit gross margin on avocados sold. International Farming Total sales in the International Farming segment for the fourth quarter were $30.3 million, compared to $40.3 million for the same period last year primarily due to lower volumes of owned avocados sold, stemming from unfavorably warm weather conditions in Peru during the early stages of fruit development, partially offset by higher average sales prices that were supported by constrained industry volumes. Segment adjusted EBITDA was $2.7 million, compared to $1.1 million for the same period last year, as higher sales prices and cost savings measures more than offset the adverse impact of lower harvest yields on fixed cost absorption. Blueberries Sales in the Blueberries segment have traditionally been concentrated in the first and fourth quarters of the fiscal year in alignment with the Peruvian blueberry harvest season. Net sales in the Blueberries segment increased 62% to $31.6 million for the fourth quarter, compared to $19.5 million for the same period last year, driven by volume from new plantings and yield improvements. Yield growth was driven by improved weather patterns during the current harvest season in Peru, as cooler temperatures have been experienced since the end of El Niño conditions in May 2024. Segment adjusted EBITDA increased 59% to $8.6 million for the fourth quarter, compared to $5.4 million for the same period last year, as a result of the growth in volumes. Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Cash and cash equivalents were $58.0 million as of October 31, 2024, compared to $42.9 million as of October 31, 2023. Net cash provided by operating activities improved by $64.2 million to $93.4 million for the year ended October 31, 2024, as compared to $29.2 million last year. The growth in operating cash flow was primarily driven by improved operating performance during fiscal 2024. Further supporting the improvement in operating cash flow was favorable working capital management. While higher avocado pricing drove increases in inventory and accounts receivable, these increases were more than offset by higher grower payable balances, driven primarily by those same higher prices, and higher accounts payable and accrued expenses, the latter of which was significantly impacted by incentive compensation and statutory profit-sharing accruals in the current year. In addition, higher accounts payable and accrued expenses were attributed to the impact of higher volume and increased acreage within our Blueberries segment. Capital expenditures were $32.2 million for the year ended October 31, 2024 compared to $49.8 million last year. Capital expenditures were comprised primarily of avocado orchard development, pre-production orchard maintenance and land improvements in Guatemala; pre-production avocado orchard maintenance, blueberry land development and plant cultivation, and blueberry cooling facility construction costs in Peru; and distribution facility construction costs in the United Kingdom. During 2024, the International Farming segment also began construction of a pack house in Guatemala. Outlook For the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, the Company is providing the following industry outlooks that will drive performance: Industry volumes in the fiscal 2025 first quarter are expected to be consistent with the prior year period. While supply from Mexico has been constrained during the early part of the quarter due to fruit maturity and sizing, we expect industry volumes to ramp up as we move to the latter portion of quarter as we expect a larger Mexican harvest season. Pricing is expected to be higher on a year-over-year basis by approximately 20% compared to the $1.40 per pound average experienced in the first quarter of fiscal 2024, indicative of continued strength in demand. The blueberries harvest season in Peru will peak during the first quarter. The Company expects to see meaningful volume increases from owned farms resulting from yield improvements and new acreage in production, but the impact on revenue will likely be offset by lower average sales prices resulting from higher overall industry volumes from Peru. Pricing is expected to be approximately 30% lower compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2024, which will negatively impact segment adjusted EBITDA during the quarter as compared to the previous year when weather-related supply constraints led to abnormally high sales prices. Capital expenditures were lower than expected for fiscal 2024 by approximately $10 million due to the timing of vendor payments associated with packhouse construction in Guatemala and blueberry plant development in Peru, both of which will carryover into fiscal 2025. For fiscal 2025, total capital expenditures inclusive of the 2024 carryover are expected to be between $50 to $55 million. The spend will be allocated primarily to the International Farming and Blueberries segments. Within the International Farming segment, spend will be concentrated in Guatemala for pre-production avocado orchard maintenance and packhouse construction. Within the Blueberries segment, spend will be concentrated on land development and plant cultivation in Peru. Conference Call and Webcast As previously announced, the Company will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 financial results today at 5:00 p.m. ET. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (877) 407-9039 or for international callers by dialing (201) 689-8470. A replay of the call will be available through January 2, 2025 by dialing (844) 512-2921 or for international callers by dialing (412) 317-6671; the passcode is 13750485. The live audio webcast of the conference call will be accessible in the News & Events section on the Company's Investor Relations website at https://investors.missionproduce.com . An archived replay of the webcast will also be available shortly after the live event has concluded. Non-GAAP Financial Measures This press release contains the non-GAAP financial measures "adjusted net income" and "adjusted EBITDA." Management believes these measures provide useful information for analyzing the underlying business results. These measures are not in accordance with, nor are they a substitute for or superior to, the comparable financial measures by generally accepted accounting principles. Adjusted net income (loss) refers to net income (loss) attributable to Mission Produce, before stock-based compensation expense, unrealized gain (loss) on derivative financial instruments, foreign currency gain (loss), farming costs for nonproductive orchards (which represents land lease costs), recognition of deferred ERP costs, transaction costs, amortization of inventory adjustments and intangible asset recognized from business combinations, further adjusted by any special, non-recurring, or one-time items such as remeasurement, impairment or discrete tax charges that are distortive to results, and tax effects of these items, if any, and the tax-effected impact of these non-GAAP adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interest, allocable to the noncontrolling owners based on their percentage of ownership interest. Adjusted EBITDA refers to net income (loss), before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, stock-based compensation expense, other income (expense), and income (loss) from equity method investees, further adjusted by asset impairment and disposals, net of insurance recoveries, farming costs for nonproductive orchards (which represents land lease costs), recognition of deferred ERP costs, transaction costs, amortization of inventory adjustments recognized from business combinations, and any special, non-recurring, or one-time items such as remeasurements or impairments, and any portion of these items attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Effective for the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company made a change in presentation of its reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to its comparable GAAP financial measure to include a subtotal of the non-GAAP adjustments before the effect of the noncontrolling interest adjustment called "adjusted EBITDA before adjustment for noncontrolling interest." The presentation change has no impact to total adjusted EBITDA. The Company believes the addition of the subtotal within the reconciliation is useful because it better aligns with management's sequence of review of the information in the reconciliation. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measure are provided in the table at the end of this press release. About Mission Produce, Inc. Mission Produce is a global leader in the worldwide avocado business with additional offerings in mangos and blueberries. Since 1983, Mission Produce has been sourcing, producing and distributing fresh Hass avocados, and currently services retail, wholesale and foodservice customers in over 25 countries. The vertically integrated Company owns and operates four state-of-the-art packing facilities in key growing locations globally, including California, Mexico and Peru and has additional sourcing capabilities in Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Brazil, Ecuador, South Africa and more, which allow the company to provide a year-round supply of premium fruit. Mission's global distribution network includes strategically positioned forward distribution centers across key markets throughout North America, China, Europe, and the UK, offering value-added services such as ripening, bagging, custom packing and logistical management. For more information, please visit www.missionproduce.com . Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release that are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements that, within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Words such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "believe", "seek", "could", "estimate", "judgment", "targeting", "should", "anticipate", "goal" and variations of these words and similar expressions, are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release address a variety of subjects, including statements about our short-term and long-term assumptions, goals and targets. Many of these assumptions relate to matters that are beyond our control and changing rapidly. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurances that our expectations will be attained. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially from those implied by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including: reliance on primarily one main product; limitations regarding the supply of fruit, either through purchasing or growing; fluctuations in the market price of fruit; increasing competition; risks associated with doing business internationally, including Mexican and Peruvian economic, political and/or societal conditions; inflationary pressures; establishment of sales channels and geographic markets; loss of one or more of our largest customers; general economic conditions or downturns; supply chain failures or disruptions; disruption to the supply of reliable and cost-effective transportation; failure to recruit or retain employees, poor employee relations, and/or ineffective organizational structure; inherent farming risks, including climate change; seasonality in operating results; failures associated with information technology infrastructure, system security and cyber risks; new and changing privacy laws and our compliance with such laws; food safety events and recalls; failure to comply with laws and regulations; changes to trade policy and/or export/import laws and regulations; risks from business acquisitions, if any; lack of or failure of infrastructure; material litigation or governmental inquiries/actions; failure to maintain or protect our brand; changes in tax rates or international tax legislation; risks associated with global conflicts; inability to accurately forecast future performance; the viability of an active, liquid, and orderly market for our common stock; volatility in the trading price of our common stock; concentration of control in our executive officers, and directors over matters submitted to stockholders for approval; limited sources of capital appreciation; significant costs associated with being a public company and the allocation of significant management resources thereto; reliance on analyst reports; failure to maintain proper and effective internal control over financial reporting; restrictions on takeover attempts in our charter documents and under Delaware law; the selection of Delaware as the exclusive forum for substantially all disputes between us and our stockholders; risks related to restrictive covenants under our credit facility, which could affect our flexibility to fund ongoing operations, uses of capital and strategic initiatives, and, if we are unable to maintain compliance with such covenants, lead to significant challenges in meeting our liquidity requirements and acceleration of our debt; and other risks and factors discussed from time to time in our Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You can obtain copies of our SEC filings on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Corporation does not intend to, nor does it assume any obligation to, update or supplement any forward-looking statements after the date hereof to reflect actual results or future events or circumstances. Contacts: Investor Relations ICR Jeff Sonnek 646-277-1263 jeff.sonnek@icrinc.com Media Jenna Aguilera Marketing Communications Manager Mission Produce, Inc. press@missionproduce.com MISSION PRODUCE, INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (In millions, except for shares) October 31, 2024 October 31, 2023 Assets Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 58.0 $ 42.9 Restricted cash 1.3 0.3 Accounts receivable Trade, net of allowances 95.4 74.1 Grower and fruit advances 1.7 0.9 Other 15.3 12.4 Inventory 91.2 70.8 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 9.4 9.1 Income taxes receivable 6.7 9.6 Total current assets 279.0 220.1 Property, plant and equipment, net 523.4 523.2 Operating lease right-of-use assets 67.8 72.4 Equity method investees 33.0 31.0 Deferred income tax assets, net 9.7 8.5 Goodwill 39.4 39.4 Intangible asset, net — 0.5 Other assets 19.2 19.7 Total assets $ 971.5 $ 914.8 Liabilities and Equity Liabilities Accounts payable $ 35.3 $ 27.2 Accrued expenses 39.9 26.4 Income taxes payable 7.7 1.6 Grower payables 50.3 26.4 Short-term borrowings 3.0 2.8 Loans from noncontrolling interest holders—current portion 0.1 0.5 Notes payable 0.5 — Long-term debt—current portion 3.0 3.4 Operating leases—current portion 6.4 6.6 Finance leases—current portion 2.9 2.6 Total current liabilities 149.1 97.5 Long-term debt, net of current portion 110.7 148.6 Loans from noncontrolling interest holders, net of current portion 1.8 2.5 Operating leases, net of current portion 67.4 71.0 Finance leases, net of current portion 21.5 14.7 Income taxes payable 1.3 2.3 Deferred income tax liabilities, net 16.6 23.5 Other long-term liabilities 26.0 26.4 Total liabilities 394.4 386.5 Equity Mission Produce shareholders' equity 547.3 503.6 Noncontrolling interest 29.8 24.7 Total equity 577.1 528.3 Total liabilities and equity $ 971.5 $ 914.8 MISSION PRODUCE, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended October 31, Twelve Months Ended October 31, (In millions, except for share and per share amounts) 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net sales $ 354.4 $ 257.9 $ 1,234.7 $ 953.9 Cost of sales 298.6 230.1 1,082.2 870.6 Gross profit 55.8 27.8 152.5 83.3 Selling, general and administrative expenses 27.2 20.6 86.8 76.4 Operating income 28.6 7.2 65.7 6.9 Interest expense (2.7 ) (3.3 ) (12.6 ) (11.6 ) Equity method income 1.1 0.8 3.7 4.0 Other income (expense), net 2.3 1.1 3.6 (0.2 ) Income (loss) before income taxes 29.3 5.8 60.4 (0.9 ) Provision (benefit) for income taxes 8.6 (0.2 ) 18.6 2.2 Net income (loss) $ 20.7 $ 6.0 $ 41.8 $ (3.1 ) Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest 3.4 2.0 5.1 (0.3 ) Net income (loss) attributable to Mission Produce $ 17.3 $ 4.0 $ 36.7 $ (2.8 ) Net income (loss) per share attributable to Mission Produce: Basic $ 0.24 $ 0.06 $ 0.52 $ (0.04 ) Diluted $ 0.24 $ 0.06 $ 0.52 $ (0.04 ) Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding, used in computing diluted earnings per share 71,197,465 70,953,478 71,012,829 70,750,239 MISSION PRODUCE, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow (Unaudited) Years Ended October 31, (In millions) 2024 2023 Operating Activities Net income (loss) $ 41.8 $ (3.1 ) Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities Provision for losses on accounts receivable — 0.1 Depreciation and amortization 37.7 32.8 Amortization of debt issuance costs 0.2 0.2 Equity method income (3.7 ) (4.0 ) Noncash lease expense 6.1 5.9 Stock-based compensation 7.1 4.5 Dividends received from equity method investees 3.2 2.7 Losses on asset impairment, disposals and sales, net of insurance recoveries 3.9 1.3 Deferred income taxes (8.0 ) (6.4 ) Unrealized (gains) losses on foreign currency transactions (1.7 ) 1.4 Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative financial instruments 0.1 (0.1 ) Other (0.4 ) 0.1 Effect on cash of changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisition: Trade accounts receivable (20.9 ) (10.6 ) Grower fruit advances (0.8 ) 0.9 Other receivables (3.2 ) 5.0 Inventory (19.3 ) 3.0 Prepaid expenses and other current assets (0.2 ) 2.0 Income taxes receivable 2.9 (1.6 ) Other assets 1.6 1.0 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 25.4 (8.9 ) Income taxes payable 5.1 (0.2 ) Grower payables 23.5 2.2 Operating lease liabilities (5.3 ) (3.8 ) Other long-term liabilities (1.7 ) 4.8 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 93.4 $ 29.2 Investing Activities Purchases of property, plant and equipment (32.2 ) (49.8 ) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 0.1 0.2 Investment in equity method investees (1.6 ) (2.1 ) Purchase of other investment — (2.3 ) Other 0.2 (0.1 ) Net cash used in investing activities $ (33.5 ) $ (54.1 ) Financing Activities Borrowings on revolving credit facility 40.0 145.0 Payments on revolving credit facility (75.0 ) (130.0 ) Proceeds from short-term borrowings 3.0 2.8 Repayment of short-term borrowings (2.8 ) (2.5 ) Principal payments on long-term debt obligations (3.4 ) (3.5 ) Principal payments on finance lease obligations (1.8 ) (2.6 ) Proceeds from loan from noncontrolling interest holder — 2.0 Principal payments on loans due to noncontrolling interest holder (0.5 ) — Payments to noncontrolling interest holder for long-term supply financing (2.0 ) — Payments for long-term supplier financing (0.5 ) (0.1 ) Purchase and retirement of common stock — (0.6 ) Taxes paid related to shares withheld from the settlement of equity awards (0.8 ) (0.5 ) Exercise of stock options — 0.1 Equity contributions from noncontrolling interest holders — 4.2 Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities $ (43.8 ) $ 14.3 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash — (0.1 ) Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 16.1 (10.7 ) Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period 43.2 53.9 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $ 59.3 $ 43.2 Summary of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 58.0 $ 42.9 Restricted cash 1.3 0.3 Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows $ 59.3 $ 43.2 MISSION PRODUCE, INC. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP (Unaudited) The following tables reconcile the non-GAAP measures "adjusted net income" and "adjusted EBITDA" to their comparable GAAP measures. Refer also to "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" earlier in this press release. Adjusted Net Income Three Months Ended October 31, Twelve Months Ended October 31, (In millions, except for per share amounts) 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net income (loss) attributable to Mission Produce $ 17.3 $ 4.0 $ 36.7 $ (2.8 ) Stock-based compensation 2.6 1.3 7.1 4.5 Unrealized loss on derivative financial instruments 0.1 0.7 0.6 2.3 Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss (1.7 ) (0.8 ) (1.6 ) 1.8 Losses on asset impairment, disposals and sales, net of 0.1 0.1 3.9 1.3 Farming costs for nonproductive orchards (1) 0.7 1.0 4.2 3.8 Recognition of deferred ERP costs 0.6 0.5 2.2 2.2 Depreciation-blueberries (2) — — 4.1 — Severance — 1.3 1.3 1.3 Legal settlement — — 0.2 — Amortization of intangible asset recognized from business combination — 0.3 0.5 1.5 Transaction costs — — — 0.3 Amortization of inventory adjustment recognized from business combination — — — 0.7 Tax effects of adjustments to net income (loss) attributable to Mission Produce (3) (0.1 ) (0.7 ) (4.2 ) (4.1 ) Nonrecurring discrete tax charge — — — 1.8 Noncontrolling interest (4) — (0.2 ) (2.2 ) (1.3 ) Mission Produce adjusted net income $ 19.6 $ 7.5 $ 52.8 $ 13.3 Mission Produce adjusted net income per diluted share $ 0.28 $ 0.11 $ 0.74 $ 0.19 (1) During the three months ended October 31, 2024, $0.3 million related to blueberry orchards and $0.4 million related to avocado orchards. During the twelve months ended October 31, 2024, $2.5 million related to the blueberry orchards and $1.7 million related to avocado orchards. During the three months ended October 31, 2023, $0.5 million related to the development of blueberry orchards and $0.5 million related to avocado orchards. During the twelve months ended October 31, 2023, $2.0 million related to the development of blueberry orchards and $1.8 million related to avocado orchards. (2) Represents accelerated depreciation expense for certain blueberry plants determined to have no remaining useful life. (3) Tax effects are calculated using applicable rates that each adjustment relates to. (4) Represents net income or loss attributable to noncontrolling interest plus the impact of tax-effected non-GAAP adjustments, allocable to the noncontrolling owner based on their percentage of ownership interest. Adjusted EBITDA Three Months Ended October 31, Twelve Months Ended October 31, (In millions) 2024 2023 2024 2023 Marketing & Distribution adjusted EBITDA $ 25.6 $ 10.8 $ 85.1 $ 40.1 International Farming adjusted EBITDA 2.7 1.1 4.6 3.1 Blueberries adjusted EBITDA 8.6 5.4 18.1 5.2 Total reportable segment adjusted EBITDA $ 36.9 $ 17.3 $ 107.8 $ 48.4 Net income (loss) 20.7 6.0 41.8 (3.1 ) Interest expense (1) 2.7 3.3 12.6 11.6 Provision (benefit) for income taxes 8.6 (0.2 ) 18.6 2.2 Depreciation and amortization ( 2 ) 10.2 10.0 37.7 32.8 Equity method income (1.1 ) (0.8 ) (3.7 ) (4.0 ) Stock-based compensation 2.6 1.3 7.1 4.5 Losses on asset impairment, disposals and sales, net of insurance recoveries 0.1 0.1 3.9 1.3 Farming costs for nonproductive orchards 0.4 0.5 1.7 1.8 Recognition of deferred ERP costs 0.6 0.5 2.2 2.2 Severance — 1.3 1.3 1.3 Legal settlement — — 0.2 — Transaction costs — — — 0.3 Amortization of inventory adjustment recognized from business combination — — — 0.7 Other (income) expense, net (2.3 ) (1.1 ) (3.6 ) 0.2 Adjusted EBITDA before adjustment for noncontrolling interest $ 42.5 $ 20.9 $ 119.8 $ 51.8 Noncontrolling interest ( 3 ) (5.6 ) (3.6 ) (12.0 ) (3.4 ) Total adjusted EBITDA $ 36.9 $ 17.3 $ 107.8 $ 48.4 (1) Includes interest expense from finance leases, the most significant of which is for nonproductive land at our Blueberries segment of $0.3 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $1.8 million and $1.4 million for the twelve months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. (2) Includes depreciation and amortization of purchase accounting assets of $0.2 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $3.7 million and $2.4 million for the twelve months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Includes amortization of finance leases, the most significant of which is for nonproductive land at our Blueberries segment of less than a million and $0.1 million for the three months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $0.7 million and $0.6 million for the twelve months ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The twelve months ended October 31, 2024 include $4.1 million of accelerated depreciation expense recognized during the first quarter of 2024, for certain blueberry plants determined to have no remaining useful life. (3) Represents net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest plus the impact of non-GAAP adjustments, allocable to the noncontrolling owner based on their percentage of ownership interest. MISSION PRODUCE, INC. Other Information (Unaudited) Segment Sales Marketing & Distribution International Farming Blueberries Total Marketing & Distribution International Farming Blueberries Total Three Months Ended October 31, (In millions) 2024 2023 Third party sales $ 319.6 $ 3.2 $ 31.6 $ 354.4 $ 236.2 $ 2.2 $ 19.5 $ 257.9 Affiliated sales — 27.1 — 27.1 — 38.1 — 38.1 Total segment sales 319.6 30.3 31.6 381.5 236.2 40.3 19.5 296.0 Intercompany eliminations — (27.1 ) — (27.1 ) — (38.1 ) — (38.1 ) Total net sales $ 319.6 $ 3.2 $ 31.6 $ 354.4 $ 236.2 $ 2.2 $ 19.5 $ 257.9 Twelve Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 Third party sales $ 1,152.6 $ 6.4 $ 75.7 $ 1,234.7 $ 889.9 $ 11.6 $ 52.4 $ 953.9 Affiliated sales — 58.5 — 58.5 — 78.6 — 78.6 Total segment sales 1,152.6 64.9 75.7 1,293.2 889.9 90.2 52.4 1,032.5 Intercompany eliminations — (58.5 ) — (58.5 ) — (78.6 ) — (78.6 ) Total net sales $ 1,152.6 $ 6.4 $ 75.7 $ 1,234.7 $ 889.9 $ 11.6 $ 52.4 $ 953.9 Avocado Sales Three Months Ended October 31, Twelve Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Pounds of avocados sold (millions) 161.1 162.4 647.3 654.4 Average sales price per pound $ 1.90 $ 1.39 $ 1.69 $ 1.30 Sales by Type Three Months Ended October 31, Twelve Months Ended October 31, (In millions) 2024 2023 2024 2023 Avocado $ 305.5 $ 225.0 $ 1,092.2 $ 851.1 Other 48.9 32.9 142.5 102.8 Total net sales $ 354.4 $ 257.9 $ 1,234.7 $ 953.9 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Olympia Financial Group Inc. Announces December Dividend

Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini was quick to back Vitor Roque after the team’s draw with Rayo Vallecano last time out. The Brazilian did not score in the match, and has only managed four goals all season, but has still reportedly attracted interest from Palmeiras . Yet Pellegrini seems happy with Vitor Roque who is currently on loan from Barcelona . “He is a young player who is starting his career. He is 19 years old, so we cannot demand from him the experience that a footballer with more games under his belt has,” he told reporters. “He spent the 90 minutes running, trying to create opportunities. He caused the penalty, had a cross-field chance that he failed to convert and a one-on-one with the goalkeeper and as he gains confidence, he will also improve his precision in finishing inside the area. He is a player in full growth who brings us a lot.” Palmeiras are said to be prepared to spend 20 million euros on Vitor Roque but it’s not known if the youngster would be interested in returning to Brazil. Relevo are now reporting that Tottenham also scouted Vitor Roque during the match, suggesting he is also a target for the north London side.The US Supreme Court sidestepped on Friday a decision on whether to allow shareholders to proceed with a securities fraud lawsuit accusing Meta's Facebook of misleading investors about the misuse of the social media platform's user data. The justices, who heard arguments in the case on Nov. 6, dismissed Facebook's appeal of a lower court's ruling that allowed a 2018 class action led by Amalgamated Bank to proceed. The Supreme Court opted not to resolve the underlying legal dispute, determining that the case should not have been taken up. Its action leaves the lower court's decision in place. The court's dismissal came in a one-line order that provided no explanation. The Facebook dispute was one of two cases to come before the Supreme Court this month involving the right of private litigants to hold companies to account for alleged securities fraud. The other one, involving the artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia, was argued on Nov. 13. The Supreme Court has not ruled yet in the Nvidia case. The complainants in the Facebook case claimed the company unlawfully withheld information from investors about a 2015 data breach involving British political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica that affected more than 30 million Facebook users. They accused Facebook of misleading investors in violation of the Securities Exchange Act, a 1934 federal law that requires publicly traded companies to disclose their business risks. Facebook's stock fell following 2018 media reports that Cambridge Analytica had used improperly harvested Facebook user data in connection with Donald Trump's successful US presidential campaign in 2016. The investors have sought unspecified monetary damages in part to recoup the lost value of the Facebook stock they held. At issue was whether Facebook broke the law when it failed to detail the prior data breach in subsequent business-risk disclosures, and instead portrayed the risk of such incidents as purely hypothetical. Facebook spokesperson Andy Stone expressed disappointment "in the Supreme Court's decision not to clarify this part of the law." "The plaintiff's claims are baseless and we will continue to defend ourselves as this case is considered by the district court," Stone said. Facebook argued that it was not required to reveal that its warned-of risk had already materialized because "a reasonable investor" would understand risk disclosures to be forward-looking statements. President Joe Biden's administration supported the shareholders in the case. US District Judge Edward Davila dismissed the lawsuit but the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals revived it, prompting Facebook's appeal to the Supreme Court. George Washington University law professor Alan Morrison said that following the Supreme Court's dismissal of Facebook's appeal, the complainants would be expected to seek discovery, a process that involves the exchange of information among parties in a case. Morrison added that Facebook "might renew their motion to dismiss under a somewhat different standard - partially for purposes of delay." The Cambridge Analytica data breach prompted US government investigations into Facebook's privacy practices, various lawsuits and a US congressional hearing. The US Securities and Exchange Commission in 2019 brought an enforcement action against Facebook over the matter, which the company settled for $100 million. Facebook paid a separate $5 billion penalty to the US Federal Trade Commission over the issue. The Supreme Court in prior rulings has limited the authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the federal agency that polices securities fraud. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the worldMore than 1 million Americans live with human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, with tens of thousands of new diagnoses each year. But with earlier diagnoses and advances in treatment, HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, has become far more manageable. Death rates among diagnosed individuals have dropped, even as recently as the past five years. Stacker analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to better understand drops in HIV-related deaths nationally and among certain subpopulations, taking a closer look at the factors behind these declines. Overall, the CDC reports that 4,145 people died of a known cause related to HIV in 2022, a drop of about 19%—or 971 fewer deaths—compared to 2018. Dr. Robyn Neblett Fanfair, director of the HIV prevention division at the CDC, said this is due to ever-evolving HIV testing and treatments. “HIV testing is becoming more of an option as people seek care, wherever they seek care,” Fanfair told Stacker. “That’s in community-based organizations, their primary care settings, family planning settings. It’s been wonderful to see HIV tests become a part of overall well-being and health care in this country.” A hallmark of modern HIV treatment is viral suppression, or reducing the presence of HIV in one’s blood to very low levels, which keeps patients healthy and prevents transmission. Nearly 2 in 3 Americans diagnosed with HIV have reached viral suppression, though the lowest rates are among women, those aged 25 to 34, Black people, and people who inject drugs, Fanfair said. New efforts in testing, treatment, and prevention are particularly targeted at these and other disproportionally affected groups. Fanfair highlighted one recent testing innovation, Together TakeMeHome, a program for HIV self-tests that people can order via delivery. Demand for the tests was beyond what Fanfair’s division anticipated, showing real eagerness for self-initiated testing among Americans, she said. HIV treatments have also advanced substantially. In the past few years, researchers have developed combination pills so that those with HIV may only have to take one pill per day, rather than the dozens of daily pills characteristic of earlier antiretroviral treatments. Recently released treatments also include long-lasting injections, which patients only receive every few weeks or months. Fanfair, who is also a medical provider for people living with HIV, called both innovations “revolutionary.” She said other modalities are continuing to come out as well, giving HIV patients myriad treatment options that help them to live long and healthy lives. “What these promising declines of HIV-related deaths really show us is the power of ongoing HIV care and treatment in this country,” she said. You may also like: The Southeast has the highest rate of babies with low birth weights It took decades to reach current strides in HIV care, largely due to early public health failures. The first U.S. cases of AIDS emerged in 1981, though health officials at the time didn’t yet fully understand the disease or its implications. It was first identified as a “gay cancer” as it mainly affected gay men and was associated with Kaposi’s sarcoma, a rare form of cancer linked to weakened immunity. It further spread among other marginalized communities, namely intravenous drug users, immigrants, and communities of color; as a result, the disease was largely overlooked by policymakers and public health officials. Those with the disease and those attempting to treat them faced rampant discrimination. Lacking proper funding, research, and resources, the disease spread quickly and was incredibly deadly. By the end of that first year, there were 337 reported cases of individuals with severe immune deficiency, and nearly 2 in 5 had already died. The life expectancy for those diagnosed with HIV or AIDS was just one or two years. It took outcry from affected communities, medical professionals, and activists before the U.S. and international health community took major action to combat the growing epidemic. The first public AIDS research and treatment was funded in 1983—two years after initial reports. In the interim, research remained limited, and dangerous misconceptions took root about the disease and how it spread. Not until the mid-’80s was it understood that HIV spread through bodily fluids like blood, semen, vaginal fluid, and breast milk, but not through casual contact or other bodily fluids like saliva. Even then, as stigma and discrimination persisted, deaths surged. AIDS was the leading cause of death for American men between the ages of 25 to 44 in 1992, and two years later it became the leading cause of death for all Americans in that age bracket. By 1996 death rates had dropped, though remained the leading cause of death for Black Americans. When highly active antiretroviral therapies were introduced to treat HIV in the late ’90s and early 2000s, the disparity in mortality rates grew between white and Black HIV patients. Studies suggest that this was due to fewer medical professionals providing these advanced treatments to Black populations and government policies limiting care in low-income communities, on top of other social factors. Decades later, racial disparities persist in HIV infections and deaths. This is especially true among Black populations, namely Black women, youth, gay and bisexual men, and Black populations in the South. Although they only account for 12% of the population, Black Americans make up 39% of new HIV diagnoses, 40% of people living with HIV, and 43% of HIV-related deaths. Stigma and discrimination, higher poverty rates, lack of health care access, and less awareness of HIV status contribute to these ongoing disparities. Medical breakthroughs have reduced death rates for Americans with HIV, including groups that are disproportionately affected by the virus. Even in the past five years, HIV-related death rates fell for all diagnosed Americans and across most at-risk groups. Some of the largest drops have been measured among older people. Three decades ago, growing old with HIV wasn’t a likely outcome—in the 1980s, the life expectancy was just three years after diagnosis for people living with AIDS. But as effective treatments have allowed people to lead long and healthy lives, aging with HIV has become a major focus for researchers. As of 2023, life expectancies for most people receiving HIV treatment was about the same as the overall population. Those aging with HIV have similar health concerns to other aging Americans but remain at higher risk for some HIV-associated conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, renal disease, and cancer. HIV-related death rates also dropped among Black, multiracial, Hispanic or Latino, and Native American or Alaska Native populations. Rates remained consistent among transgender women and girls, though their actual number of HIV-related deaths rose from 2018 to 2022. Some disproportionately affected populations have been prioritized in the White House’s 2021 HIV/AIDS strategy , which puts forth a roadmap to end the U.S. HIV epidemic by 2030. The document provided guidelines to achieve this goal, including improving health outcomes for those with HIV and reducing related disparities and health inequities. Hundreds of millions of dollars have gone toward these goals over the past few years, funding health centers, treatment access, workforce training, and other resources. Much funding and support is targeted at specific communities where new infections have been highly concentrated. This often means supporting work at the local or community level to ensure that people can access HIV care in the places where they already go for health and other services, Fanfair explained. Federal funding aimed at reducing disparities has proven effective in the past, particularly in decreasing HIV-related death rates for Black and Hispanic populations, according to a 2020 study. Today’s falling death rates indicate that the same may be true of these more recent efforts toward overburdened communities. The combination of federal attention, medical advancements, and outreach in affected communities has led to great improvements in American HIV care. Moving forward, researchers are pursuing preventative vaccines and cures . In addition, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is looking at intersections with other diseases, expediting small and early-stage trials, and working to ensure that research is accessible to and representative of the most affected populations. “Thinking of ways that we can support access to all communities is going to be really critical,” Fanfair said. Story editing by Alizah Salario. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Founded in 2017, Stacker combines data analysis with rich editorial context, drawing on authoritative sources and subject matter experts to drive storytelling.

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