HIV spreading beyond risk groups in 27 Russian regions, epidemiologists say

In 27 Russian regions, HIV is spreading among the general population, according to the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor. Scientists use the term 'generalised epidemic' for the stage when the virus spreads in the general population rather than only among risk groups.

In these regions, HIV is diagnosed in more than 1% of pregnant women. The situation is most serious in the Kemerovo, Irkutsk and Sverdlovsk regions.

In Russia, 45,000 new HIV cases were detected in 2025, which is 13.4% lower than in 2024. But in the same year, the number of HIV and hepatitis infections in medical institutions set a record — the highest in the past 15 years, according to statistics compiled by the specialist portal Medvestnik.

In 2025, eight clusters of infection were recorded in healthcare facilities, with 104 patients infected. Investigations continued in 2026 into 11 clusters of infection in ten regions of Russia, where the spread of HIV and hepatitis in medical organisations is suspected. In Moscow, an investigation is underway into a cluster in which 22 cases of viral hepatitis C have been identified.

One of the largest confirmed clusters in the past two years was in a sanatorium in Kabardino-Balkaria, where 82 people were infected. While receiving medical care, 76 patients contracted viral hepatitis C and six were found to have mixed infections.

In oncology hospitals in Kamchatka Territory and Buryatia, 147 and 42 patients respectively were infected with hepatitis. Another three hepatitis C clusters were identified in dialysis centres in the Samara and Kursk regions, where 26 people were affected.

Experts describe violations of sanitary and epidemiological rules as the main cause of the infections, including the use of single-use catheters or glucometers on several patients. In such situations, the source is usually patients with undiagnosed infections.

Yelena Igonina, head of the Department for the Epidemiological Wellbeing of the Population at Rospotrebnadzor, said these 'systemic and gross violations' have become entrenched in today's Russia. Although simultaneous testing for hepatitis C antibodies and RNA covers blood, component, organ and tissue donors well, testing for RNA among other categories that should be tested — dialysis, haematology and transplant patients, contacts in hepatitis clusters, children under one born to mothers with HIV, and patients with immunodeficiency — is significantly lagging behind.

In addition, for the first time in six years, two cases of HIV infection via transfusion of blood components were identified in 2026, the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor added.

International HIV consultant Aleksei Verter said that when hospitals receive large numbers of people with undiagnosed infections, this means that 'the infectious process in the country is latent, hidden' — and a great many people do not know they are infected.

Despite lower mortality, the number of people living with HIV is rising. Medvestnik's authors note that for each death there are one and a half new infections — that is, the number of people 'living with HIV continues to grow constantly', explains Natalya Ladnaya.

In recent years, the number of deaths from HIV in Russia has been between 30,000 and 34,000 per year. In the past three years, rates of illness and mortality among people with HIV have been falling, and according to preliminary data this trend will continue in 2026. At the same time, the expert is convinced that there is no reason to rest on one's laurels, since 'the dynamics can change rapidly'.