Copenhagen – The World Health Organization (WHO) today certified Denmark as the first country in the European Union to eliminate mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of both HIV and syphilis, a landmark achievement in public health. The validation, stemming from assessments conducted in June and August 2025, confirms Denmark’s success in maintaining low transmission rates and high coverage of prenatal testing and treatment for pregnant women between 2021 and 2024.
“The elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis marks a major public health achievement for Denmark,” stated Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This milestone demonstrates that with strong political commitment and consistent investment in primary care and integrated maternal and child health services, countries can protect every pregnant woman and newborn from these diseases.”
The WHO’s assessment requires a minimum of 95 out of every 100 pregnant women to be tested and treated, with new infant infections kept below 50 per 100,000 births annually. Denmark has consistently surpassed these benchmarks, attributed to its robust antenatal care system, reliable data collection, and commitment to women’s rights, according to Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “As the first European Union country to achieve this public health milestone, Denmark’s success is a testament to the strength of its maternal health system and its long-standing commitment to reaching every pregnant woman with the care she needs,” Dr. Kluge said.
Denmark’s achievement places it among 23 other countries and territories validated by the WHO for EMTCT of HIV, syphilis, or hepatitis B, or certified as being on the path to elimination. These include Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Belarus, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Botswana, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Montserrat, Namibia, Oman, Republic of Moldova, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Thailand.
Sophie Løhde, Denmark’s Minister for the Interior and Health, hailed the validation as “a proud moment” resulting from decades of dedication by healthcare professionals, midwives, and public health teams. “This validation by WHO is a proud moment for Denmark and the result of decades of work by our health-care professionals, midwives, and public health teams to ensure that every pregnant woman receives the screening and care she needs,” Løhde stated. She emphasized that Denmark’s universal health system, providing equal access to all, was foundational to this success. “Being the first country in the European Union to reach this milestone is both an honour and a responsibility. We hope our experience can inspire and support other countries on their path to elimination, and we look forward to completing the journey with the addition of hepatitis B to achieve full triple elimination.”
Currently, approximately 5,950 people in Denmark are living with HIV, representing less than 0.1% of pregnant women. Routine testing and treatment have effectively reduced mother-to-child transmission to zero. The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B infection is estimated at 0.2–0.3%, primarily among migrants from regions where the virus is endemic. In 2024, Denmark reported 626 cases of syphilis with 524 cases among men and 102 among women, demonstrating the effectiveness of systematic prenatal screening and care in preventing congenital syphilis.
The WHO is now collaborating with Denmark to advance the validation process for triple elimination, encompassing HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. Denmark’s experience is being presented as a model for other nations seeking to strengthen their EMTCT programs, highlighting the importance of rights-based policies, high-quality services, and robust data systems.
