The government of Fiji has declared HIV a national crisis following a 27 percent increase in new diagnoses recorded in 2025. According to a government statement, officials estimate that one in every 60 adults in the Pacific nation is now living with the infection.
The surge follows reports that 2,016 individuals were diagnosed with HIV last year. While the outbreak was previously concentrated among people who inject drugs, health officials expressed concern that the virus is spreading more broadly across the population of approximately 900,000 people. UNAIDS noted that among cases where the mode of transmission was identified, sexual contact accounted for over half, while injecting drugs represented more than 42 percent.
Data released by the government showed that 59 infants were born with HIV in 2025, and 18 of those infants died before their first birthday. Officials noted that expanded testing capabilities have helped identify previously undetected cases, which has allowed more patients to begin medical care earlier than in previous years.
In response to the data, the government established a five-minister cabinet subcommittee intended to coordinate the national response and remove barriers to action. Planned initiatives include expanding free, voluntary, and confidential testing, increasing the availability of preventative medications, and implementing harm-reduction programs such as a needle-and-syringe exchange for intravenous drug users.
For the average household in Fiji, the government’s declaration will result in an expansion of healthcare services. Residents will see increased access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication used to reduce the risk of contracting HIV, and new public health programs in local communities. Those seeking care are protected by national law, as officials reiterated that discrimination against people living with HIV is illegal and that medical treatment remains accessible at facilities across the country.
The increase represents one of the steepest global rises in new HIV infections, according to UNAIDS. While Fiji's rate of one in 60 adults is lower than parts of Africa where the rate is close to one in 35, the growth has prompted government intervention in the Pacific region. Moving forward, the government will focus on its new cabinet subcommittee's efforts to implement these medical and harm-reduction strategies, though specific start dates for the new needle-and-syringe programs were not reported.