Fiji declares HIV a national crisis as diagnoses surge

Fiji has declared HIV a national crisis after new diagnoses climbed 27% last year, intensifying concern that an epidemic once concentrated among people who inject drugs is spreading more widely through the Pacific island nation.



The government said in a statement posted on Facebook that 2,016 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2025 and estimated that one in 60 adults was living with the disease.



Fifty-nine babies were born with HIV last year and 18 died before their first birthday, it also said.



Authorities said expanded testing had helped uncover infections, enabling earlier treatment. Fiji now plans to widen access to free, voluntary and confidential testing, prevention medicines, as well as harm-reduction services for injecting drug users and treatment.



Fiji, a country of around 900,000 people, is experiencing one of the world's sharpest rises in new infections, according to UNAIDS. It estimates that 9,100 Fijians were living with HIV last year and that only 39% knew their status and that 22% were receiving antiretroviral treatment.