"Emergency situation": which country declared an HIV epidemic

Fiji's health authorities have declared a public health emergency due to a sharp rise in HIV cases. New infections have increased 12-fold over 15 years. Health Minister Dr. Ratu Antonio Lalabalavu stated that the situation has reached epidemic levels. Currently, about one in 60 adults in Fiji is living with HIV. The increase is linked to unprotected sex and drug use.

Fiji's health authorities have declared a public health emergency due to a sharp rise in HIV infections. Health Minister Dr. Ratu Antonio Lalabalavu stated that local response measures are insufficient as the situation has reached epidemic levels. He estimates that about one in 60 adults in Fiji is now living with HIV — significantly higher than the figure of one in 167 five years ago. In 2025, more than 2,000 people in the country were diagnosed with HIV. According to UNAIDS, the number of new infections has increased 12-fold from 2010 to 2025. The spread of the virus is occurring alongside a rise in methamphetamine use. Among cases with known transmission routes, over half are linked to sexual contact, and more than 42% to injecting drug use. Only 39% of the approximately 9,100 people living with HIV knew their status, and just 22% were receiving therapy. Last year, 59 children were born with HIV in Fiji, 18 of whom died before the age of one. The government has established a subcommittee of five ministers to address the crisis and plans to expand testing, access to treatment, and a needle exchange program.