Chernobyl HIV: The Myth, the Stigma, and the Forgotten Generations
More than three decades after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, the radioactive fallout continues to haunt the lives of those affected—not just biologically, but socially and psychologically. One of the most damaging and persistent rumors to emerge in the wake of the catastrophe is the myth of a “Chernobyl HIV”—a fabricated, stigmatizing idea that survivors of the meltdown, and even their descendants, carry a mysterious and contagious disease akin to HIV or AIDS.
Though medically baseless, this myth has quietly permeated public consciousness in parts of Eastern Europe, contributing to the isolation, discrimination, and economic exclusion of entire communities. Former U.S. Congressman Glen Browder, who visited the region and documented his experience in a blog post for The Huffington Post, d...




















