The World Health Organization has certified Denmark as having eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis (EMTCT). The decision was made after assessing compliance with international criteria, which include low rates of infection and high levels of testing and treatment of pregnant women.
In the summer of 2025, the WHO Regional Validation Committee and the Global Validation Advisory Committee confirmed that Denmark had met all the necessary criteria. In particular, the country has ensured a consistently low rate of mother-to-child transmission of infections, a high level of prenatal testing, and adequate coverage of treatment for pregnant women.
Elimination status means that the number of new infections among infants has not exceeded 50 per 100,000 births for several years.
WHO emphasizes that this result was possible due to the continuous work of clinical and community health services, as well as universal access to health services, including integrated screening during pregnancy.
Denmark is also in the process of confirming the elimination of the hepatitis B virus. WHO is working with the country as part of the validation process of the so-called “triple elimination” of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B.
Denmark joins 22 countries and territories that the WHO has recognized as having eliminated or are on track to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, or hepatitis B.