Roger-Luc Chayer (Image : AI / Gay Globe)
The Canadian province of Manitoba declared a public health emergency last week due to an uncontrolled increase in HIV transmission cases, the virus responsible for AIDS when left untreated. And for the first time in Canada, it is no longer gay men who represent the majority of new cases, but rather women and members of First Nations.
The Government of Manitoba officially declared a public health emergency related to HIV in May 2026, following a dramatic rise in HIV infections over recent years. According to the provincial health ministry, new cases increased from 90 in 2019 to 328 in 2025, placing Manitoba among the most affected provinces in Canada.
The situation is considered particularly concerning because Manitoba’s rate far exceeds the national average. In 2024, the province recorded approximately 19.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, more than three times the national rate. The most affected regions are Prairie Mountain and northern Manitoba, although Winnipeg remains the area with the highest total number of cases.
The health ministry explains that the HIV profile in Manitoba differs from the rest of Canada. While elsewhere transmission more often occurs among men who have sex with men, in Manitoba a large proportion of infections is associated with injection drug use and unprotected heterosexual relationships. Authorities also link the crisis to broader social factors: homelessness, poverty, mental health issues, addictions, and limited access to care in rural and northern regions.
The government also acknowledges that Indigenous peoples are disproportionately affected. More than half of new cases involve women, which is unusual compared to the rest of the country. Several newly diagnosed women are under 40, increasing the risk of mother-to-child transmission. Manitoba also recorded cases of perinatal HIV transmission in 2024 and 2025.
Health authorities also state that Manitoba has one of the lowest rates in the country of people living with HIV who are on treatment and have a suppressed viral load. This means that a significant number of people are not receiving or maintaining the antiretroviral treatment they need.
In response to this situation, the provincial government aims to strengthen several measures: more frequent HIV testing, improved access to antiretroviral treatment, distribution of sterile equipment to reduce risks associated with injection drug use, promotion of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), awareness campaigns, and efforts to combat stigma.
The HIV crisis in Manitoba is now triggering a real ideological conflict. While infections are surging and the province is forced to declare a health emergency, some activists are still calling for expanded harm reduction policies, greater distribution of clean needles, and an approach seen by critics as too permissive toward addiction.
In contrast, many citizens are denouncing the failure of current strategies, accused of having allowed the situation to deteriorate for years. In several rural communities, opposition has become so strong that restrictions have been imposed on the distribution of drug-use supplies, fueling a climate of tension and anger around the rapid spread of HIV.
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