Fiji Declares HIV Emergency Amid Surging Cases

Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency amidst a significant surge in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases, a trend contrary to global declines. Health Minister Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu announced this emergency on Tuesday, citing 2,060 new diagnoses in 2025 and emphasizing the urgent need for a coordinated response.

The archipelago, home to less than a million people, now estimates that one in every 60 adults lives with HIV. This represents a drastic increase from five years ago when the rate was one in 167. The alarming rise is linked to an increase in intravenous drug use, as Fiji has become a transit point for narcotics.

Injecting drug use, often involving shared needles, accounts for approximately half of new HIV cases identified with a transmission mode in 2025. Sexual transmission, driven by low condom use and stigma, contributes the other half. Health officials are particularly concerned about the speed of transmission and the high number of undiagnosed cases.

Currently, only about 39% of people living with HIV in Fiji know their status, and less than a quarter are receiving treatment. This contrasts sharply with global averages. The nation reported 117 HIV-related deaths in 2025, an increase from 25 in 2021. Efforts are underway to expand testing, treatment access, and implement a needle and syringe program.