Fiji declares national health emergency over rapid rise in HIV cases

The Crisis

Fiji has officially declared a national emergency after seeing a sharp rise in HIV cases across the country. Recent figures show that one in every sixty people in the Pacific nation now carries the virus.

The Cause

Health authorities report that a worsening drug crisis is driving this alarming outbreak. The spike in cases is closely tied to local drug issues fueling the spread of the infection.

Support

International bodies are stepping in to help manage the situation. UNAIDS has announced it will support Fiji as the government puts new measures in place to strengthen its public health response.