Fiji declares national emergency as HIV cases surge twelvefold amid crystal meth crisis
Fiji has declared a national emergency as HIV infections have multiplied twelvefold since 2010, driven by a parallel crystal-methamphetamine epidemic.
Fiji’s health ministry announced a national emergency in mid-September after HIV infections rose twelvefold from 2010 to 2025, reaching an estimated 9,000 cases—about one adult in 60. The surge is closely tied to a booming crystal-methamphetamine market, where shared injecting equipment and a practice called “bluetoothing” have accelerated transmission, especially among young adults. Experts highlighted that roughly 50% of new cases stem from unprotected sex, while the other half are linked to drug use.
Australia responded with a $48 million aid package to fund expanded testing, antiretroviral therapy, and preventive measures such as PrEP and mobile outreach teams. However, logistical hurdles persist, including limited sterile needle supplies, remote island geography, and cultural barriers that hinder treatment uptake.
Why it matters
The outbreak threatens Fiji’s fragile health system and could spread across the Pacific if unchecked.
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