Fiji's rising HIV cases are affecting babies and children.

Officials and UN agencies report a rapid rise in HIV in Fiji, with more than 1,200 diagnoses in the first half of 2025 and about one baby diagnosed each week through mother-to-child transmission.

Fiji is experiencing a sharp increase in reported HIV cases, and the rise is affecting infants, young people and other vulnerable groups. Health officials and UN agencies link the spread to growing methamphetamine use, unsafe injecting practices and gaps in testing and treatment. Stigma and low knowledge about HIV are widespread across urban and rural communities. The government and regional partners have begun scaling up responses, while authorities signal a possible change in the epidemic classification. Key details: - Authorities and UN bodies describe Fiji as having one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics globally, with cases more than tripling between 2023 and 2024 and over 1,200 diagnoses reported in the first six months of 2025. - Health officials report about one infant is diagnosed weekly via mother-to-child transmission, and Dr Jason Mitchell says roughly one child under five is dying each month from related illness. - UNAids data cited in the reporting put the number of people living with HIV in Fiji at about 8,900, and 126 official deaths were recorded in 2024, a figure local experts say may understate the true toll because of stigma and reporting practices. - Officials expect to upgrade the pandemic threat level to a generalised epidemic in the coming months; the government allocated $10 million last year with matching support from Australia and New Zealand, and measures mentioned in the reporting include a safe needle programme and plans to make pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) available within months. Summary: The reporting describes an epidemic concentrated among younger people, people who inject drugs, partners of drug users and survivors of sexual violence, with growing numbers of infants affected through mother-to-child transmission. Authorities and international agencies have begun targeted responses and signal an escalation in official alert levels, while several prevention and treatment programmes are being rolled out or planned. Undetermined at this time.