Phnom Penh:The National AIDS Authority (NAA) of Cambodia has refuted claims circulating on social media about a resurgence of HIV infections in the country. The authority confirmed that there is no current outbreak of the virus.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the NAA released a press statement on November 8, clarifying that data from the Ministry of Health's HIV/AIDS monitoring and evaluation system unequivocally shows no outbreak. The authority labeled social media reports as misinformation.

Cambodia's HIV prevention program is recognized globally for its success. The nation is notably the first in the Asia-Pacific region to meet the 95-95-95 targets 95% of people with HIV are aware of their status, 100% of those diagnosed receive antiretroviral treatment, and 98% of those treated achieve viral suppression, minimizing transmission risk.

The NAA highlighted that individuals living with HIV in Cambodia benefit from free, lifelong antiretroviral treatment and are eligible for social protection benefits if they belong to poor households.

The press release reminded the public of the drastic reduction in new HIV infections from between 17,000 and 25,000 annually in the 1990s to 1,700 in 2021, with a further decrease to 960 in 2025.

To bolster HIV prevention efforts, the NAA urged individuals, especially young people engaged in same-sex relations, to promptly seek HIV testing at health centers or referral hospitals nationwide. Free HIV self-testing kits are also available through QR codes in various regions, including Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

The authority stressed that HIV infection can only be confirmed through testing and encouraged the public to seek verified information and necessary testing.