The Ministry of Health (MoH) denied recent claims circulating on certain news websites regarding a purported 530 percent surge in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cases in Jordan during 2022.

The ministry clarified that over the past five years, cases of AIDS, encompassing both Jordanian and non-Jordanian individuals, have been divided into three phases in the country.

In the initial stage, before the COVID-19 pandemic, when the national monitoring system was operating effectively, 113 cases were recorded in 2018, followed by 103 cases in 2019.

During the second phase, occurring amid the pandemic with a partial suspension of the monitoring system, the country witnessed a decline to 54 cases in 2020—a 47 percent decrease. Subsequently, cases saw an increase in 2021 with an improved monitoring system, reaching 72 cases, reflecting a 33 percent rise from the previous year.

In the third phase, with the complete restoration of the national monitoring system in 2022, the recorded figures returned to normal. The Kingdom registered 112 cases of AIDS—a 55 percent increase compared to the pandemic year. Of these cases, 63 affected Jordanian citizens, while 49 impacted non-Jordanians who were duly deported.

According to the ministry, the monitoring and investigation program during the pandemic significantly decreased, leading to a noticeable drop in recorded cases throughout the pandemic duration.

The ministry emphasized that AIDS and other disease statistics are accessible to all and are annually published within the MoH's comprehensive statistical report. 

The ministry called on citizens to obtain information and rely on official sources within the Ministry of Health to preserve credibility and avert the spread of misguided information.