Fiji declares health emergency over rising HIV cases

Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency after a sharp rise in infections, with more than 2,000 new cases recorded last year, according to One America News.

Health Minister Atonio Lalabalavu said the outbreak now requires an expanded government response as infections accelerate across the Pacific nation of about 900,000 people.

Health authorities estimate roughly one in 60 adults is living with HIV, compared with one in 167 five years ago.

Officials linked the surge to unprotected sex, low condom use and increasing intravenous methamphetamine use, including needle sharing.

The government plans to expand free rapid testing, provide PrEP to high-risk individuals, ensure free antiretroviral treatment for diagnosed patients and introduce harm-reduction measures, including needle-and-syringe exchange programmes nationwide for residents.