The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Denmark as the first country in the European Union to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the development as a major public health milestone.
“The elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis marks a major public health achievement for Denmark,” he said. “This milestone demonstrates 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 certification follows assessments by WHO’s Regional Validation Committee in June 2025 and the Global Validation Advisory Committee in August 2025. The reviews confirmed that Denmark met all required targets between 2021 and 2024, including maintaining low transmission rates and achieving high coverage of prenatal testing and treatment for pregnant women.
WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Henri P. Kluge, said Denmark’s achievement reflects the strength of its maternal health system.
“As the first European Union 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 reaching every pregnant woman with the care she needs,” he said.
Kluge explained that elimination requires testing and treating at least 95 out of every 100 pregnant women and keeping new infant infections below 50 per 100,000 births consistently. He noted that Denmark met these benchmarks through strong antenatal care, reliable data systems and respect for women’s rights. He added that WHO would continue supporting the country as it works toward full triple elimination, including hepatitis B.
Denmark’s Minister for the Interior and Health, Sophie Løhde, described the validation as a proud moment for the country.
“This validation by WHO is a proud moment for Denmark and the result of decades of work by our health-care professionals, midwives and public health teams to ensure that every pregnant woman receives the screening and care she needs,” she said.
She attributed the success to Denmark’s universal health system built on equal access and said the country hopes its experience will inspire others pursuing elimination targets.
According to WHO, Denmark has low rates of HIV and syphilis among pregnant women. About 5,950 people are living with HIV in the country, with less than 0.1 per cent of pregnant women affected. Routine testing and treatment have reduced mother-to-child transmission to zero.
Congenital syphilis is also uncommon due to systematic prenatal screening and care. In 2024, Denmark recorded 626 cases of syphilis overall, most of them in men.
Denmark now joins 22 other countries and territories validated by WHO for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis or hepatitis B, or certified on the path to elimination
WHO said it is working with Denmark to advance the process toward achieving full triple elimination, which includes hepatitis B.
