Health authorities are seeing a continued surge in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases across the province, with public health officials highlighting a “very concerning” spike in the Prairie Mountain Health region in the first six months of 2025. 

Between January and June, there have been 75 diagnosed cases of HIV — a viral infection that attacks a person’s immune system — in the western health region covering 67,000 square kilometres along the Saskatchewan border, from Cartwright in the south to Dawson Bay in the north, based on preliminary estimates from the province. 

That’s nearly double the number of cases for all of last year. Preliminary numbers suggest there were 44 HIV diagnoses in the Prairie Mountain Health region in 2024. 

In 2023, there were 19 diagnosed cases, according to the most recent provincial HIV surveillance report. 

woman with shoulder-length white hair wears purple eyeglasses, a purple blaze and a white collared shirt. Dr. Carol Kurbis, a medical officer of health in communicable disease control with the Manitoba government, says cases of HIV have steadily increased in the province since 2019. (Submitted by Government of Manitoba)

Dr. Carol Kurbis, a provincial medical officer of health in communicable disease control, says every health region in Manitoba has seen a steady increase in HIV diagnoses. 

“When we look at our HIV numbers broadly — provincially — we’ve seen steady increases since 2019,” Kurbis said.

“When we look at Prairie Mountain Health, the increase there appears to be a steeper increase than what we’ve seen in other regions,” she said, calling the region’s rate “very concerning.” 

Provincial estimates suggest there have been 189 total diagnoses across the province this year as of June 30, putting Manitoba on track to surpass last year’s total of 291 cases.  

Nearly 40 per cent of all cases recorded so far this year were in the Prairie Mountain Health region. 

Official provincial numbers for 2024 will be released in the government’s annual HIV surveillance report later this year. 

HIV is commonly spread through contact with bodily fluids, such as blood or breast milk, or sexual contact. HIV can be passed on to babies during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding. 

Some people with HIV could experience flu-like symptoms, but many others might not show any symptoms, especially in the early stages after contracting the virus. 

University of Manitoba professor Dr. Yoav Keynan, who leads the school’s infectious diseases section, says “testing is really critical” to limit the spread of HIV. 

Keynan says much of the virus’ spread in Manitoba is a “complex issue,” stemming from a variety of socio-economic factors. 

“The combination of lack of housing, history of trauma and ongoing trauma, those together act in concert to increase their risk,” Keynan said. 

“Injection drug use, including the presence of methamphetamine and the increasing methamphetamine use in the province, are all contributing to the rising rate that we are seeing,” he said.

In Manitoba, those who use drugs via injection are most at risk of contracting HIV, while sexual contact is the primary risk factor across Canada. 

A spokesperson for the province told CBC News in an email that “it is essential to address root causes” of HIV, with most cases in Manitoba linked to homelessness, mental health concerns, substance use and poverty. 

Last year, the government created a HIV response team that includes staff from the public health, housing, justice, northern relations and finance departments to help implement HIV initiatives, the spokesperson said. 

“One of the main initiatives related to HIV is ensuring that anyone who has HIV is connected to care and has access to treatment,” Kurbis said.

There is no cure for HIV, but it is no longer considered a terminal illness, the province says. Health officials say people with the chronic illness can live long, healthy lives when taking antiretroviral therapy medications, which also decrease the chance of passing on the virus to others. 

Manitoba HIV patients can get this medication — and pre-exposure drugs that help reduce the risk of contracting the virus —  for free if they have a Manitoba health card and aren’t fully covered under another provincial or federal program. 

“Any time we remove any kind of financial barrier, it does make a difference in people being able to maintain treatment and not having to choose between what’s a bigger priority in their life,” Kurbis said. 

Keynan says there are a lot of “promising initiatives” across the province that have increased HIV testing and reduced barriers to accessing care, including the Manitoba HIV program, which provides services to more than 2,000 people. 

He said the issue needs a “whole of government approach” to address the systemic issues that lead to HIV spread, including poverty and homelessness.  

“The last five years are showing this constant increase and it is clear that we need additional resources to be able to address it,”  Keynan said. 

“There are lots of people doing an amazing job but we need more of it.”