(NPR) – At the July AIDS 2026 conference in Rio, Jason Mitchell, a public health specialist leading Fiji’s HIV response, described it as the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the world, noting that two-thirds of cases are in those ages 20-34. “Our young, active, productive population is currently being infected with HIV, and unless we find solutions quickly, this will continue to get worse,” he says.

A key cause is another parallel epidemic — the rampant use of crystal meth among the nation’s youth, who often inject it. That has led to transmission through shared needles. (Read More)