Fiji declares HIV a national emergency as cases surge

Fiji has declared a national emergency due to a surge in HIV cases, aiming to expand access to testing, treatment and prevention services. Approximately one in every 60 adults in the Pacific nation is now living with the virus, up from one in 167 five years ago. A growing number of infants are dying from HIV-related complications. In 2025 alone, Fiji recorded 2,016 new diagnoses, according to Health Minister Antonio Lalabalavu.

He emphasized that an outbreak-level response is no longer sufficient, describing the situation as a steep rise in drug use, unsafe sex, needle sharing and a dangerous practice called "bluetoothing" or "hotspotting." Bluetoothing involves intravenous drug users injecting the blood of intoxicated individuals, contributing to the global HIV surge in Africa and the Pacific region.

The cheaper high of sharing a single hit among multiple users and the convenience of needing only one syringe, which are scarce in Fiji, are key factors driving this trend.

The government plans to introduce a syringe and needle program as part of its response to the crisis. Sufficient supplies of syringes and needles are already available, with legislative amendments to be introduced in parliament to roll out the program. Lalabalavu urged people to get tested without shame or fear, emphasizing that stigma drives individuals away from essential services.

Out of the 9,100 Fijians living with HIV in 2025, only 39% were aware of their status, and just 22% were receiving antiretroviral treatment, according to UNAIDS. This starkly contrasts with the global average of 78% of people with HIV accessing treatment. Jason Mitchell, who leads the national HIV response taskforce, believes it will take up to five years for Fiji to effectively address the epidemic, noting that it will be a long-term effort unlike the rapid turnaround seen in the Covid-19 pandemic.

HIV treatment has placed significant strain on Fiji's already struggling health services, Mitchell added.