Two New Zealand babies have been diagnosed with HIV passed on from their mothers for the first time in nearly 20 years

Perinatal HIV cases were effectively eliminated in New Zealand in 2007 after routine screening was added to antenatal check-ups.

But experts say an inconsistent approach means some pregnant patients can still miss out.

The University of Otago HIV Epidemiology Group found two children born in 2023 were diagnosed with perinatally acquired HIV last year.

Their mothers were not known to have HIV before or during their pregnancy.