Dr. Jason Mitchell

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Fiji declares HIV a national emergency

As of October 2026: Projecting up to 12,000 people living with HIV by year-end

Fiji's Cabinet declared HIV a national emergency on September 16, 2026, under a law last used during the COVID-19 pandemic. One in 60 Fijian adults carries the virus, and new diagnoses in 2025 hit 2,016, a 12-fold increase since 2010.

Updated Oct 4

Notable Quotes

We would expect numbers to rise in the meantime.

from Fiji declares HIV a national emergency · Updated Oct 4

We are now describing this as a generalised epidemic, which means that it's no longer a problem within certain population groups and it's more widespread than it was thought to be initially.

from Fiji declares HIV a national emergency · Updated Oct 4

The projections are that up to 12,000 people will be living with HIV in Fiji by the end of the year.

from Fiji declares HIV a national emergency · Updated Oct 4