HIV reaches epidemic stage in 27 Russian regions
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Seneweb
HIV is at a generalised epidemic stage in 27 Russian regions, where more than 1.23 million people have confirmed diagnoses and 45,000 new infections were recorded in 2025. Kemerovo, Irkutsk and Sverdlovsk are among the worst-affected territories, according to Euronews.
Russia’s health agency Rospotrebnadzor classifies 27 regions of the country as being at a generalised HIV epidemic stage, with prevalence above 1% among pregnant women, according to Euronews. The territories of Kemerovo, Irkutsk and Sverdlovsk are among the worst affected.
Russia has more than 1.23 million people with a confirmed HIV diagnosis, while 846,500 people are receiving medical follow-up, about 385,500 fewer than the total number of diagnoses, according to Euronews. At the end of 2025, only half of people living with the virus had a suppressed viral load.
New diagnoses fell by 13.4% in 2025, to about 45,000 cases, but heterosexual intercourse still accounts for two-thirds of new infections, according to Euronews. Eight HIV or hepatitis outbreaks also affected 104 patients in 2025, while eleven suspected outbreaks are under investigation in 2026 and two cases of HIV transmission through transfusion have been identified.
The Russian draft budget for 2027 provides for additional treatment for 30,000 new patients, compared with 45,000 new diagnoses recorded in 2025, according to Euronews. This situation comes as 54 million tests were carried out in 2025, with screening considered insufficiently targeted at the populations most exposed.
