Many European countries are lagging in efforts to detect HIV and hepatitis B and C, according to a new analysis by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The report highlights gaps in testing policies, late diagnoses, and limited access to treatment, despite global health targets aiming to identify infections early.
The ECDC noted that testing policies in several countries remain outdated and often do not follow its 2018 guidance for HIV and hepatitis screening. The recommendations were designed to help people access treatment quickly and reduce the risk of further transmission, as symptoms for these infections can take years to appear.
Across the region, more than 650,000 people have been diagnosed with HIV, including nearly 25,000 in 2023. Chronic hepatitis B or C affects an estimated 5.4 million people. While data from 26 countries indicate that 92 percent of people with HIV are aware of their status, more than half of diagnoses occur late. Individuals living with undiagnosed HIV may go three to five years without knowing, which increases their risk of severe illness, reduces treatment effectiveness, and raises the likelihood of transmitting the virus to others.
Late detection is also common among hepatitis B and C patients. Many only learn of their infection when severe complications, such as liver cancer or cirrhosis-related liver failure, develop. Global health targets call for 95 percent of people with HIV and 60 percent of those with chronic hepatitis B and C to know their status and access treatment. The ECDC said reaching the HIV target remains possible in the coming years, but achieving the hepatitis targets will be more challenging.
Testing access varies across Europe. HIV testing is offered free of charge in 24 countries, while free hepatitis testing is available in 17. Only 22 countries report having a national hepatitis response plan. More than half of EU member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, have not updated their HIV or hepatitis testing guidance since 2018.
The ECDC urged countries to increase testing access, particularly for high-risk groups such as men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, transgender individuals, and those in prison. HIV and hepatitis B are mainly transmitted through bodily fluids, while hepatitis C spreads through blood, including unsafe medical procedures or shared needles.
This warning follows previous assessments earlier this year indicating that Europe risks missing targets for HIV, hepatitis, other sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis without major investments in public health. Authorities say prompt action is needed to strengthen testing, update policies, and ensure that at-risk populations receive timely care.
By addressing these gaps, European nations could improve early detection, reduce disease complications, and limit the spread of infections across the continent.
