117 cases of HIV diagnosed in Manitoba in 2020: Roussin
Manitoba’s top doctor said there were 117 cases of HIV identified in Manitoba in 2020, which is a slight decrease from 2019, when there were 121 new cases.
Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, announced the numbers on Wednesday, noting that the province’s latest HIV report is now online. Wednesday also marks World AIDS Day.
“The theme for World AIDS Day is ‘end inequalities, end AIDS.’ So HIV and stigma and the stigma surrounding it continues to be a significant public health concern in Canada and around the world, including Manitoba,” Roussin said.
“The populations most at risk of HIV have faced longstanding health and social inequities, made worse now by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Roussin added that though the report shows a slight reduction in HIV cases in 2020, there was a “significant” reduction in testing for the virus.
“Heterosexual sex and the sharing of drug injection equipment appear to be the largest drivers right now in Manitoba,” he said.
Roussin noted that the 20 to 29 age group accounted for the highest proportion of cases among females, while for males it was the 30 to 39 age group.
He encouraged Manitobans to get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and to talk to their health-care providers about prevention, testing and treatment.
“Around 25 per cent people living with HIV infection are unaware that they have HIV and that can contribute to the spread,” he said.
Roussin advised that testing for sexually transmitted diseases is confidential, free, and available at physician clinics, community clinics and hospitals.
He urged those living with HIV to stay connected to care.
“This is treated as a chronic infection. We can bring the level of that virus down to undetectable levels and to minimize the risk of that being transmitted to others as well,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
BREAKING Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.