Fiji Declares HIV a National Crisis Amid Surging Diagnoses
The Pacific island nation reports a 27% increase in new HIV diagnoses last year, intensifying concerns about the epidemic's wider spread.
Fiji has declared HIV a national crisis following a 27% surge in new diagnoses last year, a development that heightens worries about the epidemic's spread beyond its previous concentration among injecting drug users.
According to a government statement, 2,016 individuals were diagnosed with HIV in 2025, bringing the estimated number of adults living with the disease to one in 60. The country also reported 59 babies born with HIV last year, with 18 succumbing to the virus before their first birthday.
Authorities attribute the increase in detected infections to expanded testing efforts, which enable earlier treatment. Fiji is now planning to broaden access to free, voluntary, and confidential testing, prevention medications, harm-reduction services for injecting drug users, and treatment.
Fiji, with a population of approximately 900,000, is experiencing one of the most rapid increases in new HIV infections globally, according to UNAIDS. The agency estimates that 9,100 Fijians were living with HIV in the past year, with only 39% aware of their status and 22% receiving antiretroviral treatment.
"Fiji has recognized the urgency of the moment and is stepping up its response," stated UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima. "It is also a stark reminder to the world that AIDS is not over."
Among cases where the transmission route is known, over half are linked to sexual transmission, and more than 42% are associated with injecting drug use, UNAIDS reported. The agency has welcomed the government's commitment to a needle-and-syringe program and increased access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication designed to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
A five-minister Cabinet subcommittee has been established by the Fijian government to address and remove obstacles to effective action. The government affirmed that discrimination against individuals living with HIV is illegal and that services are accessible nationwide.
While concerning, Fiji's estimated adult HIV prevalence of one in 60 remains lower than in some parts of Africa, where nearly one in 35 adults are living with HIV, according to the World Health Organization.