False Claims of 75% Surge in HIV Cases Spread by Anti-Immigration Campaign

Dublin: Anti-immigration groups are circulating misleading claims on social media alleging a 75% increase in HIV cases in Ireland—an assertion that public health data does not support. Critics say the narrative is being used to stoke fear and link immigration to rising infections, despite official figures showing no such trend.

The campaign claims a dramatic spike in AIDS cases compared with last year. However, official Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) data shows that while HIV diagnoses rose in 2024 compared with 2023, numbers have declined since then. Only preliminary data for 2025 is currently available, and final annual figures have not yet been published.

According to the HPSC, HIV diagnoses fell by more than 20% during the first 44 weeks of 2025 (up to early November). There is no evidence of any 75% increase. Despite this, a video posted on Facebook on December 1 by anti-immigration activist Niall McConnell repeats the false claim. The video—which has been viewed more than 10,000 times—opens with a critique of immigration and concludes with an appeal for viewers to purchase a €119 annual “gold membership” to his group, Síol na hÉireann.

Official data does show a 41% increase in HIV diagnoses among women in 2024 compared with 2023, rising from 57 to 80 cases. However, when men and women are counted together, the overall increase drops to under 31%. The viral video omits this context and instead compares 2025 with 2024, a comparison critics say is baseless given that this year’s full data has not yet been finalised.

While public health officials acknowledge shifts in demographic patterns—such as the rise in cases among women—they stress that the 75% figure promoted online is a significant exaggeration and not grounded in available evidence.

Irish Samachar English News

Kindly click to join WhatsApp group chat to get important news and breaking news from Irish Samachar