Manitoba declares HIV public health emergency

Manitoba officials declared a public health emergency last week due to the rising cases of HIV throughout the province, which now has the highest infection rates in Canada.

Manitoba has seen a steady increase in new HIV cases in 2025, reaching 328 in 2025, more than triple the 90 new cases in 2019, a May 7 news release said.

“In 2024, Manitoba reported 19.5 cases per 100,000 people, over three-and-a-half times the national rate of 5.5 per 100,000 people,” it said.

The Prairie Mountain Health and Northern Health regions had the highest rates, but Winnipeg had the largest number of cases diagnosed.

“Indigenous peoples continue to be disproportionately impacted and all people living in rural and remote areas may face additional challenges in accessing care,” it said.

HIV in Manitoba is most commonly spread through injection drug use and unprotected heterosexual sex. More than 50 percent of the province’s cases are female, compared to the national average of 32 percent.

The news release said the risks are often associated with homelessness, mental health concerns, substance use and socio-economic inequality.

“HIV spreads through activities like unprotected sex or sharing needles. It is not spread through coughing or sneezing, by touching someone with HIV or from contact with surfaces like toilet seats, counter-tops and sinks,” it stated.

The province launched a steering committee, with federal government and Indigenous members, to respond to the rising cases. It will implement recommendations for public health providers. It will also focus on increasing awareness and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis, a medication that can prevent getting HIV from sex or injection drug use.

Other HIV prevention measure will include enhanced testing for early diagnosis, connection to care and support for people living with HIV.

For more information about HIV, visit www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/diseases/hiv.html.

To read Manitoba’s 2024 annual surveillance update on HIV, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/surveillance/hivaids/index.html.

For more information about MEPP, visit www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/sti/hiv-faq.html.