Portugal continues to register significant progress in the fight against HIV infection, consolidating a downward trend that has intensified in the last decade. According to the report "HIV Infection in Portugal – 2025", prepared by the National Institute of Health, Dr Ricardo Jorge (INSA) and the Directorate-General of Health (DGS), the country achieved a 35% reduction in new diagnoses and a 43% reduction in AIDS cases between 2015 and 2024.

In the last year, 997 new cases were reported, confirming that the epidemic is receding, though it still poses concerns in certain groups.

The infection profile: young people and sexual transmission

The document reveals that the epidemic in Portugal today has a predominantly male and young face. Seven out of ten new diagnoses (72.3%) occur in men, with the 25-29 age group having the highest incidence rate in the country. Regarding transmission routes, heterosexual transmission remains the most prevalent in total cases (52.5%). However, when analysing only males, cases in men who have sex with men (MSM) dominate, representing 60.6% of new diagnoses in men. The report also indicates the notification of three cases in children under 15 years of age.

The barrier of late diagnosis

Despite success in reducing cases, Portugal faces a structural challenge: the speed of detection. More than half of new patients (53.9%) arrive at hospitals in a late stage of infection, compromising the immediate effectiveness of treatment and facilitating the unintentional transmission of the virus.

This scenario is particularly critical in the senior population, where 65.4% of people aged 50 or over only discover the infection when it is already advanced. This reality contrasts with the success of "Fast-track cities," such as Lisbon or Porto, where five of the 12 participating cities have already managed to ensure that more than 95% of people living with HIV know their status.

Treatment and new forms of prevention

In the field of clinical follow-up, data from 26 national hospitals reveal an impressive success rate: 97.8% of diagnosed individuals are in treatment, and 95.9% have achieved virological suppression. This effective control has transformed the reality of mortality; Since 2021, the majority of people living with HIV have died from causes unrelated to the infection. It is estimated that there are currently 49,699 people living with HIV in Portugal, with a healthcare system capable of ensuring that a diagnosis is no longer a short-term death sentence—proof of this is that, in 46.3% of deaths in 2024, the people had been living with the virus for more than 20 years.

To support these figures, the National Program has reinforced prevention strategies. The report highlights a significant increase in access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), which can now be obtained outside the hospital setting, facilitating protection for at-risk groups.

Although there has been a slight decrease in the total number of screening tests, the investment in preventive materials and the Needle Exchange Program remains a fundamental pillar in curbing contagion and reducing the stigma associated with the disease.