Manitoba declares public-health emergency over rising cases of HIV
Posted May 7, 2026 11:22 am.
Last Updated May 7, 2026 4:25 pm.
Manitoba has declared a public-health emergency over its HIV infection rates.
The province says new cases of HIV have been “steadily increasing,” driven by intravenous drug use and unprotected heterosexual sex.
“Manitoba continues to experience some of the highest rates of HIV in Canada,” Dr. Brent Roussin, the province’s chief provincial public health officer, told a news conference Thursday morning.
Last year, there were 328 new HIV cases reported in Manitoba, compared to 291 new cases in 2024, 142 new cases in 2021 and 90 new cases in 2019.
In 2024, Manitoba reported 19.5 cases per 100,000 people, roughly three-and-a-half times the national rate.
READ: HIV infections in Manitoba reach highest rate in country
The province says rates are highest in the Prairie Mountain Health and Northern Health regions. “But the absolute number of cases, the highest number of cases occurs in the Winnipeg region,” Roussin said.
The chief provincial public health officer says Indigenous people are disproportionately affected.
Roussin acknowledged the spread of the virus is facilitated by other factors such as homelessness, mental-health issues, and various barriers to access to care.
“We need to continue to work across sectors,” he said. “So this includes mental health, addictions, housing, and corrections, because we know HIV does not occur in isolation from these broader social and health challenges.”
Roussin says by declaring the issue a public-health emergency, the government can support a more coordinated response with other organizations and community groups. The province is launching an HIV response steering committee coordinated through public health.
He says it’s not about creating fear but that a level of urgency is needed to address the issue.
The province’s focus is to develop targeted supports for people in communities most affected by HIV, such as increased awareness and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and enhanced testing for early diagnosis.
“Our goal here is to ensure every person in Manitoba, regardless of where they are, regardless of their background or their circumstances, can access the care and support they need,” Dr. Roussin said.
