Fiji Declares HIV National Crisis Amid Surge in New Diagnoses
The Pacific island nation reports a 27% increase in HIV cases in 2025, with concerns of wider community spread.
Fiji has declared HIV a national crisis following a significant rise in new diagnoses, with a 27% increase reported in 2025. The government stated that 2,016 people were diagnosed with the virus last year, leading to an estimation that one in 60 adults in the country is living with HIV.
This surge has intensified concerns that the epidemic, once primarily concentrated among injecting drug users, is now spreading more broadly. The crisis has also impacted infants, with 59 babies born with HIV in 2025 and 18 of them dying before their first birthday.
Authorities attribute some of the increase in identified cases to expanded testing efforts, which allow for earlier diagnosis and treatment. Fiji plans to improve access to free, voluntary, and confidential testing, as well as prevention medicines and harm-reduction services for injecting drug users.
According to UNAIDS, Fiji is experiencing one of the world's sharpest increases in new HIV infections. 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,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima. “It is also a stark reminder to the world that AIDS is not over.”
Analysis of transmission routes indicates that over half of the known cases were sexually transmitted, while more than 42% were linked to injecting drug use. UNAIDS has welcomed the government's commitment to implementing a needle-and-syringe program and expanding access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
A five-minister Cabinet subcommittee has been established by the Fijian government to address the crisis and remove obstacles to effective action. The government also emphasized that discrimination against individuals living with HIV is illegal and that services are available nationwide.
While the situation in Fiji is concerning, the estimated rate of one in 60 adults living with HIV is still lower than in some parts of Africa, where the World Health Organization reports nearly one in 35 adults are affected.