Fiji declares national health emergency over rapid surge in HIV cases

Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency after a sharp and alarming rise in infections across the Pacific nation. Health authorities report that one in every sixty people in the country now has the virus, making the outbreak one of the worst in the world. Officials state that a growing drug crisis is a major factor driving the rapid increase in new cases. Experts also point out that strong social taboos surrounding the topic play a significant role in the crisis by hindering open discussion and prevention efforts. The emergency declaration comes just before the start of school holidays, as the government scrambles to put urgent measures in place to tackle the outbreak and raise public awareness.