SUVA, May 21 (Xinhua) -- A one-year-old baby has been diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the youngest ever recorded in Fiji since the first case was detected in 1989.
The infant is among eight new cases recorded from August last year to May this year in Vanua Levu, the second largest island in Fiji.
A total of 930 cases of HIV/AIDS has been diagnosed in Fiji from 1989 to 2018.
Waisale Turuva, acting senior medical officer of Northern Reproductive Health Clinic, said Tuesday this new case was reported to authorities last week.
Calling on stakeholders in Fiji to work together to prevent the spread of this virus, he said everyone plays an important role and needs to fight the virus.
Fijian Health Minister Ifereimi Waqainabete revealed in the Fiji parliament last month that 468 people with AIDS were receiving treatment.
In Fiji, the infection rate of HIV has increased over the last 25 years from 0.7 per 100,000 to 7 per 100,000 population.
According to the Ministry of Health, this may reflect better diagnosis and reporting of cases, but also reflect a real increase in the number of cases.
