By Zoila Palma: The Pacific island nation of Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency as health authorities confront a sharp increase in infections, with intravenous drug use, unsafe sex and stigma identified among the factors contributing to the growing crisis.
Health officials estimate that one in every 60 adults in the country of fewer than one million people is now living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Fiji had 2,060 new HIV diagnoses in 2025, according to Health Minister Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu, who declared the emergency on Tuesday and described the figures as evidence of the “seriousness of the epidemic and the urgent, coordinated response our country now needs.”
The country first declared an HIV outbreak in January 2025 and subsequently expanded testing, revealing the extent of the increase, CNN reports.
The epidemic has also affected infants, with Save the Children Fiji reporting that a two-month-old baby became the youngest identified patient living with both HIV and tuberculosis (TB). The organization said 59 babies acquired HIV from their mothers last year. Meanwhile, Fiji recorded 117 HIV-related deaths in 2025, compared with 25 in 2021.
Renata Ram, Fiji adviser for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), said the speed of the epidemic and the number of people who may be living with HIV without knowing their status are particularly concerning.
Only about 39 percent of people living with HIV in Fiji know their status, while approximately 22 percent are receiving treatment.
The post International News: Fiji declares National HIV emergency as cases surge, fueled in part by drug use appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: The Pacific island nation of Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency as health authorities confront a sharp increase in infections, with intravenous drug use, unsafe sex and stigma identified among the factors contributing to the growing crisis. Health officials estimate that one in every 60 adults in the country of fewer
The post International News: Fiji declares National HIV emergency as cases surge, fueled in part by drug use appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
