In a shocking revelation, Fiji has declared a national emergency after data showed that one in 60 people in the South Pacific island nation is now HIV infected.
Officials say efforts are being taken to boost testing and treatment to fight the surge in new infections, which has increased 12-fold over the last 15 years. Five years ago, one in 167 people were infected with HIV. Latest figures suggest that about 9,000 people were living with HIV in 2025 in a country with fewer than a million people, according to the UN agency.
"This means HIV is now a national crisis - and the government is treating it like one. No more business as usual," Fiji's Health Minister Antonio Lalabalavu said in a video statement on Facebook. "More people in Fiji are living with HIV than ever before."
As part of the measures, the government said it will provide more free testing, clean needles for drug users and free treatment for people who test positive.
What is HIV?
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This condition weakens the immune system by destroying the T-cells until the body is unable to fight off even small illnesses.
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV is spread by direct contact with certain body fluids from a person with HIV, like blood or semen. These fluids include:
- Blood
- Semen (cum) and pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum)
- Rectal fluids
- Vaginal fluids
- Breast milk
What are the symptoms of HIV?
As per Cleveland clinic, the symptoms of HIV hese can include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Sore throat
- Muscle aches
- Night sweats
- Rash
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Mouth sores
