Fiji Declares HIV Emergency as Infections Surge and Testing Expands
Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency after a sharp increase in infections raised concerns about the spread of the virus across the Pacific island nation.
The government announced the emergency declaration as new data showed a significant rise in HIV cases and growing gaps in testing and treatment. Officials are now expanding free and confidential HIV testing while increasing access to prevention medicines, treatment and harm-reduction services.
The decision reflects the scale of the challenge facing Fiji, where health authorities say the number of people living with HIV has increased substantially in recent years.
According to estimates from UNAIDS, about 9,100 people were living with HIV in Fiji in 2025. However, only 39% were estimated to know their HIV status, while just 22% were receiving antiretroviral treatment.
HIV Cases Rise Sharply in Fiji
Official figures show that 2,016 people were diagnosed with HIV in Fiji during 2025, representing a 27% increase from the previous year.
The latest figures also show how dramatically the situation has changed compared with five years ago. Current estimates indicate that roughly one in 60 adults in Fiji is living with HIV, compared with approximately one in 167 people five years earlier.
The rise has prompted the government to move beyond its previous outbreak response and introduce a broader national emergency strategy.
Fiji’s Health Minister, Atonio Lalabalavu, said the scale of the epidemic requires coordinated action involving government agencies, communities and international health partners.
The World Health Organization said Fiji formally declared the national emergency on September 15, following two years of efforts to strengthen the country’s response to the growing number of infections.
Testing and Treatment to Be Expanded
One of the government’s immediate priorities is increasing access to HIV testing.
Authorities plan to expand free, voluntary and confidential testing so that more people can learn their status and begin treatment earlier if they test positive.
Health officials say expanded testing has already contributed to the identification of additional infections. While a rise in diagnoses can initially appear alarming, finding more people with HIV can also allow health services to connect them with treatment and reduce the risk of onward transmission.
The government is also expanding access to antiretroviral treatment and PrEP, a preventive medication that can significantly reduce the risk of acquiring HIV when used appropriately.
UNAIDS has welcomed the emergency declaration and the additional measures announced by Fiji, describing the country’s recent increase in infections as one of the sharpest rises globally.
Drug Use and Needle Sharing Among Concerns
Health authorities are also focusing on injecting drug use as part of the national response.
Reuters reported that injecting drug use accounted for 42% of HIV transmissions identified in Fiji’s recent data, while more than half were linked to sexual contact.
The government plans to strengthen harm-reduction services, including needle and syringe programs designed to reduce the risks associated with sharing injecting equipment.
Officials have also highlighted difficulties in maintaining adequate supplies of clean needles.
According to reporting by ABC News, Fiji’s National HIV Outbreak Response chair Jason Mitchell said shortages of needles had affected harm-reduction efforts. He also said law enforcement operations had contributed to the scarcity, while acknowledging that those operations were intended to address other public safety concerns.
HIV Is Also Affecting Newborns
The increase in HIV infections has raised concerns about transmission from mothers to their babies.
Fiji reported that 59 babies were born with HIV in 2025, while 18 died before reaching their first birthday, according to figures cited by ABC News and Reuters.
The figures have increased pressure on authorities to strengthen testing and treatment for pregnant women and improve follow-up care.
UNAIDS estimates that HIV prevalence among pregnant women in Fiji is particularly high, making maternal testing and access to treatment an important part of the country’s response.
Fighting Stigma Remains a Major Challenge
Health officials say expanding medical services will not be enough if people remain afraid to seek testing or treatment.
Stigma surrounding HIV can discourage people from getting tested, disclosing their status or continuing medical care. Fiji’s government has urged the public to respect the privacy and rights of people living with HIV.
The country’s health ministry has also emphasized the importance of working with communities, faith-based organizations and other groups to strengthen prevention and care.
The government has established a five-member Cabinet subcommittee to address barriers that have slowed the national response.
Fiji Seeks a Broader National Response
Fiji’s emergency declaration comes after the country endorsed an HIV Surge Strategy covering 2024 to 2027 and subsequently introduced a national HIV Outbreak Response Plan.
WHO said the new emergency declaration provides an opportunity to intensify those efforts and improve access to testing, prevention and treatment.
UNAIDS has described Fiji’s experience as a reminder that HIV remains a major global health issue and that epidemics can change quickly when prevention and treatment systems face pressure.
For Fiji, the immediate challenge is to ensure that people can access testing, preventive medicines and treatment without facing financial, social or legal barriers.
The government is now expanding services nationwide while seeking greater cooperation between health authorities, communities and international organizations.
The emergency declaration marks a significant escalation in Fiji’s response. Whether the country can reverse the recent rise in infections will depend on how effectively expanded testing, prevention, treatment and harm-reduction programs reach the people most affected.
