site.btaSummer Anti-AIDS Campaign Launches in Bulgaria Amid 185 New HIV Cases in 2025

The summer phase of Bulgaria’s national Anti-AIDS campaign titled “Pass It On: A Summer Without Risk” has officially launched, the Health Ministry said in a press release on Wednesday. The campaign is organized by the Health Ministry in partnership with the National Centre for Public Health and Analyses, and the Bulgarian Red Cross.

The face of the fourth and final stage of the 2025 campaign is Venci Vasilev (known online as ZicoYSK), a popular YouTuber and influencer, who will help engage younger audiences with messages about HIV prevention and testing.

Running through the end of August, the campaign will span all regions across the country. Mobile teams from regional health inspectorates will offer free and anonymous HIV testing at popular summer locations including beaches, swimming pools, music festivals, and shopping centres. The full schedule is available on the official website of the Health Ministry.

Since the beginning of 2025, nearly 200,000 people in Bulgaria have been tested for HIV. A total of 185 new cases have been detected, with 94% linked to sexual transmission and 5.4% resulting from injecting drug use. The 30-39 age group accounts for the highest number of new infections, some 33% of all newly registered cases.

Despite the increase, HIV prevalence in Bulgaria remains below the EU average. The Health Ministry says it continues to provide free modern diagnostic testing and antiretroviral therapy to all individuals living with HIV/AIDS, regardless of their health insurance status. Currently, 2,632 HIV-positive individuals are monitored through national treatment facilities, and 99% of them are receiving fully subsidized antiretroviral medication.

The Anti-AIDS campaign is traditionally conducted in four phases throughout the year: December 1 – World AIDS Day, marking the start of the annual campaign; February 14 – Valentine's Day, focusing on awareness among young people and couples; Third Sunday of May – International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, honouring those affected; August – The summer campaign, promoting prevention and testing in high-traffic public areas during the holiday season.