Generalized HIV Epidemic Reported in 27 Russian Regions as Medical Infections Hit 15-Year High

In 27 Russian regions, a generalised HIV epidemic is now underway as the human immunodeficiency virus spreads deep into the general population rather than remaining confined to traditional risk groups, the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor reported.

Key Clinical Takeaways:

• In 27 Russian regions, HIV has reached generalised epidemic levels, diagnosing over 1% of pregnant women.
• Medical facility infections set a 15-year high in 2025.
• Rospotrebnadzor warns that without intervention, the total number of people living with HIV in Russia could reach 1.47 million by 2030.

Generalised Spread Across 27 Regions

Scientists at the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor apply the term “generalised epidemic” to describe the stage where the virus moves beyond specific risk populations. In these 27 affected areas, HIV is diagnosed in more than 1% of pregnant women, according to the institute’s findings. The situation is most serious in the Kemerovo, Irkutsk, and Sverdlovsk regions.

While the Central Research Institute for the Prevention and Control of AIDS recorded 45,000 new HIV cases in Russia in 2025—a 13.4% drop compared to 2024—the overall number of people infected continues to grow. Natalya Ladnaya explains that for each death, there are one and a half new infections, meaning the total population living with the virus expands constantly.

More than 1.232 million people with a confirmed HIV diagnosis now live in Russia, representing 0.8% of the country’s population, according to Vasily Akimkin, director of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology and Rospotrebnadzor academician.

Among all countries worldwide, only 15 record more than 15,000 annual deaths among people with HIV, and Russia is among them. Annual deaths from HIV in Russia have hovered between 30,000 and 34,000. Vasily Akimkin states that the highest HIV incidence rates per 100,000 population in the European region occur in Russia, Ukraine, and North Macedonia.

Infections in Healthcare Facilities

Statistics compiled by the specialist portal Medvestnik show that medical institutions set a 15-year high for the number of HIV and hepatitis infections acquired in healthcare facilities. Yelena Igonina, head of the Department for the Epidemiological Wellbeing of the Population at Rospotrebnadzor, notes that clusters of viral hepatitis C and mixed HIV plus hepatitis infections predominate.

In 2025, eight infection clusters were recorded in healthcare facilities in Russia, infecting 104 patients. Investigations continued in 2026 into 11 clusters across ten regions where viral spread in medical organizations is suspected.

In Moscow, an investigation is underway into a cluster involving 22 viral hepatitis C cases. One of the largest confirmed clusters in the past two years infected 82 people in a sanatorium in Kabardino-Balkaria, where 76 patients contracted viral hepatitis C and six acquired mixed infections.

Oncology hospitals in Kamchatka Territory and Buryatia recorded 147 and 42 patients infected with hepatitis, respectively. Another three hepatitis C clusters affected 26 people in dialysis centers in the Samara and Kursk regions. Experts attribute these incidents to violations of sanitary and epidemiological rules, including using single-use catheters or glucometers on multiple patients.

Yelena Igonina notes that these systemic violations have become entrenched. In 2026, two cases of HIV infection via blood component transfusion were identified for the first time in six years, according to the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor.

Diverging Data and Gaps in Care

Rospotrebnadzor and the Health Ministry calculate figures differently, with Rospotrebnadzor relying on laboratory notifications of every positive immunoblot and the Health Ministry counting people registered for regular follow-up care. This creates a gap of 385,555 people between Rospotrebnadzor’s confirmed diagnosis total of 1.23 million and the Health Ministry’s figure of 846,500 people under active medical supervision.

Addressing the “Epidemiological Surveillance of HIV Infection” conference, Natalya Ladnaya reported that by the conclusion of 2025, only half of all HIV-positive individuals in Russia maintained an undetectable viral load. This leaves at least 600,000 people with HIV actively transmitting the virus. While viral load suppression occurred in 77.9% of individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), this percentage has not risen further, falling short of World Health Organization 95-95-95 targets.

Testing rates present another challenge. Although extensive HIV testing increased by 75% over the past decade to reach 54 million tests, effectiveness is declining. The share of high-risk individuals covered by testing almost halved from 5.8% in 2014 to 3% in 2023.

HIV Cases and Deaths May Rise by 2030

Projections from Rospotrebnadzor using a mathematical model indicate that if current prevention and treatment strategies remain unaltered, the count of individuals living with HIV in Russia could approach 1.47 million by the year 2030. Annual new cases could range between 31,000 and 51,000, and deaths could rise to 51,000 per year due to population aging.

Healthcare spending reflects this persistent burden. In 2025, HIV-related spending reached an estimated 279 billion roubles. Meanwhile, the draft Russian budget for 2027 provides additional funding for medicines covering only 30,000 new virus carriers, while new infections continue to outpace that figure annually.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.