Europe faces an unseen HIV crisis that worsens as thousands are diagnosed too late, undermining treatment outcomes and enabling onward transmission. A joint report by the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control shows that 105,922 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2024, while the number of undiagnosed infections continues to rise based on gaps between expected and reported cases. Health officials warn that late diagnosis deprives people of a long, healthy life and fuels the spread of the virus.
More than half of HIV diagnoses in 2024 were considered late, and 33.6% of cases were detected at an advanced stage. Dr Henri Kluge, regional director for WHO Europe, calls the situation a “silent crisis that’s fuelling transmission,” urging countries to strengthen prevention, testing, and access to care so that early diagnosis becomes a gateway to sustained health rather than a lost opportunity.
Country-specific patterns reveal stark variation. Bosnia and Herzegovina reported late diagnoses in 80.6% of cases, North Macedonia 74.5%, Croatia 68.3%, and Sweden 66.7%. In contrast, Finland recorded 27% and Cyprus 41% late diagnoses, illustrating both progress and gaps across Europe. Transmission patterns show heterosexual sex driving the majority of diagnoses (62%), followed by sex between men (13%) and injecting drug use (12%). These figures highlight where prevention and testing efforts must be intensified to curb onward transmission.
AIDS diagnoses last year stood at 7,161, though the report cautions that data from some large countries, including Germany, Spain, and Sweden, were incomplete, suggesting the true burden could be higher. While there is no cure for HIV, proper treatment can fully control the virus, allowing people to live normal, healthy lives. The report stresses that undiagnosed infections and delays in care represent a critical barrier to ending HIV in Europe, underscoring the need for comprehensive strategies that combine prevention, rapid testing, stigma reduction, and equitable access to treatment.
