HIV Cases Surge, This Nation Declares National Crisis Status
The Government of Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency after the Pacific island nation experienced a significant surge in new infections. The crisis has been triggered by transmission through sexual contact and the use of injected drugs.
According to Euro News, it is estimated that one in every 60 adults in Fiji is now living with HIV. This figure represents a sharp increase from five years ago, when the ratio was approximately one in 167 adults.
Fiji’s Minister of Health, Atonio Lalabalavu, officially announced the emergency status on Wednesday. The decision is described as the government’s recognition of the severity of the HIV epidemic currently being faced, as well as the need for a rapid and coordinated response.
“I am officially declaring a national HIV emergency in Fiji,” Lalabalues told reporters. He emphasised that the government will deploy a cross-sector response to address the ongoing increase in cases.
According to data from Fijian health authorities, 2,016 new HIV cases were recorded throughout 2025. This number is a 27 per cent increase compared to the 1,583 cases in 2024, marking the highest annual figure ever reported by the country.
UNAIDS data shows that among cases with known transmission routes, more than half are related to sexual intercourse, while more than 42 per cent are linked to the use of injected drugs.
Renata Ram, the UN Country Director for HIV/AIDS in Fiji, previously told AFP that the increase in transmission began to become visible around 2019, with the emergence of a group of high-risk intravenous drug users, particularly among sex workers. This situation demonstrates the link between increased drug use, risky behaviour, and the spread of HIV within the community.
The impact of the epidemic is also evident among mothers and infants. Approximately two in every 100 pregnant women in Fiji are estimated to be living with HIV.
In 2025, 59 babies were born with HIV. Of that number, 18 infants died before reaching one year of age. HIV can be transmitted from mother to baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or through breastfeeding. Therefore, early detection and access to treatment are vital components in preventing mother-to-child transmission.