San Francisco Recorded 136 New HIV Infections in 2025
The 2025 total marks a 75% decline in new cases over the past two decades.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Sexual Health
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San Francisco recorded 136 new HIV infections in 2025, reaching a record-low for the city. This data reflects a 75% decrease in new infections over the last 20 years.
Why it matters
The drop coincides with a multi-year effort to reach disproportionately affected communities through localized health access points. Whether the city can continue this downward trend remains a key question for public health officials.
The 2025 report identified 136 new infections, a 75% decline from levels seen 20 years ago. While 90% of newly diagnosed patients are now connected to care within one month, the long-term impact on racial disparities in health outcomes remains under investigation.
The players
San Francisco City Clinic
This facility serves as a primary hub for HIV testing, treatment, and the distribution of PrEP medications.
The details
The city has utilized health access points to provide care directly in communities where at-risk groups gather, resulting in an 11% increase in site usage. Currently, 74% of men who have sex with men treated at the San Francisco City Clinic use PrEP. Over 90% of those newly diagnosed are linked to a care provider within 30 days, while the city continues to scale prevention tools like injectable PrEP.
Timeline
1990s: Thousands of HIV infections were recorded annually.
2012: The current downward trend in new infections began.
2014: San Francisco launched the Getting to Zero campaign.
2023: Injectable PrEP became available as a prevention tool.
2025: The city recorded 136 new HIV infections.
Across the Bay
These 2025 figures represent the continued maturation of the Getting to Zero campaign, which the city launched in 2014 to eliminate new HIV infections. This latest data follows a long-term trend of declining infection rates that began in 2012.
Residents can access testing and prevention medication at local health access points designed to meet community needs. These clinics provide immediate connections to care for anyone receiving a new diagnosis.
The takeaway
San Franciscans should monitor whether future health outreach can close the gap for Latino and Black residents, who accounted for a combined 62% of new infections in 2025. Track ongoing updates from the Department of Public Health regarding new prevention access points.
Further reading
For more information on local programs and resources, visit the Sexual Health section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Francisco Chronicle.
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