Denmark becomes the first country in the European Union to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis

The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Denmark for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis (EMTCT), recognizing the country’s ongoing commitment to ensure that every child is born free of these infections.

“The elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis is a major public health achievement for Denmark,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This milestone shows that with strong political commitment and consistent investment in primary care and integrated maternal and child health services, countries can protect every pregnant woman and newborn from these diseases.”

The validation, based on an assessment by the WHO Regional Validation Committee in June 2025 and the Global Validation Advisory Committee (GVAC) in August 2025, confirms that Denmark has met all required targets from 2021 to 2024, including low transmission rates and high coverage of prenatal testing and treatment of pregnant women.

“As the first EU country to achieve this public health milestone, Denmark’s success is a testament to the strength of its maternal health system and its long-standing commitment to give every pregnant woman the care she needs,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “Elimination means testing and treating at least 95 out of every 100 pregnant women – and keeping new infections in infants under 50 per 100,000 births, year after year. Denmark has met these benchmarks through strong prenatal care, reliable data systems and respect for women’s rights. We will support Denmark as it works towards total triple elimination, when it adds hepatitis B.”

Achieving this milestone reflects decades of continued commitment by clinical and public health professionals, underpinned by strong health systems and universal health coverage including integrated screening during pregnancy. Denmark’s exemplary data systems, robust laboratory facilities and high human rights standards were key to this success.

“This WHO confirmation is a moment for Denmark and is the result of decades of work by our health workers, midwives and public health teams to ensure that every pregnant woman gets the screening and care she needs,” said Sophie Løhde, Denmark’s Minister of the Interior and Health. “The Danish universal healthcare system – built on equal access for all – was the foundation of this achievement. To be the first country in the European Union to reach this milestone is both an honor and a responsibility. We hope that our experience can inspire and support other countries on their elimination journey and we look forward to completing the journey with the addition of hepatitis B to achieve full triple elimination.”

Denmark’s experience shows what is possible when rights-based policies, high-quality services and strong data systems come together, providing a powerful model and motivator for other countries looking to strengthen their EMTCT programmes. The country is also on track to confirm elimination of hepatitis B virus. WHO is working with Denmark to improve the triple elimination validation process.

Denmark joins 22 other countries and territories certified by the World Health Organization to have eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis or hepatitis B, or certified on track to elimination, along with Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Belarus, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Botswana, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Montserrat, Namibia, Oman, Republic Moldova, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sri Lanka, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Thailand.

Note to the editor

Denmark has low rates of HIV and syphilis among pregnant women. About 5,950 people live with HIV, and less than 0.1% of pregnant women are infected. Routine testing and treatment reduced mother-to-child transmission to zero. For hepatitis B, the prevalence of chronic infection is estimated to be around 0.2-0.3%, mainly among migrants from endemic regions. Congenital syphilis (syphilis transmitted from mother to child) is also rare due to systematic prenatal screening and care. In 2024, a total of 626 cases of syphilis were reported, mostly in men (524) and less in women (102). These low infection rates highlight the effectiveness of Denmark’s public health efforts and comprehensive prenatal care.