Denmark Becomes First In EU To End Mom-To-Child HIV, Syphilis Transmission

Denmark has made history as the first European Union nation to successfully eradicate the transmission of HIV and syphilis from mother to child, according to the World Health Organisation. The WHO recognised the country's sustained commitment to ensuring every child is born free of these infections.

What is “Elimination”?

The elimination of the transmission of HIV and syphilis from an infected mother to her newborn baby is not the same as the elimination of the diseases themselves. WHO’s strict criteria for this validation include:

• Suitable treatment was given to at least 95% of pregnant women who were tested for HIV and syphilis.
• New HIV infections remained among infants at less than 50 per 100,000 live births annually.
• These results were achieved not in a few years but in the long term and because of a strong data system and a robust health infrastructure in Denmark. All of its objectives were achieved between 2021 and 2024.

How Denmark Achieved This Success

Decades of coordinated effort across its health system are reflected in Denmark’s achievement. Several key elements reinforce this success:

1. Universal Health Coverage: Every person, including pregnant women, has access to free or low-cost health services, including prenatal screening and treatment, throughout Denmark’s healthcare system. This ensures that financial barriers rarely prevent anyone from getting tested or treated.

2. Routine and Integrated Prenatal Care: IV and syphilis screening are embedded in routine antenatal services. Early testing and prompt treatment prevent transmission that could otherwise occur in utero or at birth.

3. High-Quality Data and Laboratory Systems: Denmark’s health data systems allow accurate tracking of infection rates, treatment coverage, and outcomes over time, which is key requirement for WHO validation. 

4. Strong Policies Based on Rights: Policies which protect women’s rights and guarantee access to care help ensure all pregnant people receive equitable services regardless of background.

Official Review and Certification Process

Before the validation of Denmark’s status, WHO expert panels carried out an extensive review of Denmark’s progress. The data was examined by the Regional Validation Committee in June 2025, and the findings were ratified by the Global Validation Advisory Committee in August 2025. To validate Denmark’s elimination status in early 2026, the findings were used.

Part of Denmark’s success rests on the very low prevalence of HIV and syphilis among pregnant women; today, less than 0.1 % of expectant mothers are affected by HIV. Roughly 5,950 people in Denmark are living with HIV, and routine testing has helped prevent vertical transmission almost entirely.

Due to systematic prenatal screening and care, Syphilis infection among newborns is also rare. As of 2024, a total of 626 syphilis cases were reported nationwide, with a majority in adult men and a much smaller number among women.

A Broader Global Context

Denmark has achieved the exclusive position of joining 22 countries and territories worldwide that have been validated by the WHO as having achieved the elimination of the transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, or close to it.

Denmark has currently been validated for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis, and it is working in partnership with the WHO to achieve the triple elimination of these diseases, including hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is a relatively rare disease in Denmark, which occurs in about 0.2% to 0.3% of the population, which is predominantly in migrants from other countries in regions of higher prevalence.

Adding hepatitis B to the mix of diseases to be prevented and treated in Denmark will enhance the country’s leadership in protecting future generations of people from diseases that are largely preventable.