HIV in Canada: Rising numbers demand urgent attention

HIV/AIDS, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, remains one of the most studied and misunderstood illnesses of the modern era. It has shifted, mutated, and evaded decades of attempts at eradication. Despite these scientific hurdles, HIV can be managed with consistent medication and careful monitoring. What has not changed, however, is the need for awareness, because HIV never disappeared.

The HIV crisis of the 1980s sits heavy in public memory. Hospitals filled with dying men, women, and people who used drugs. Communities were devastated. Stigma spread faster than medical information. Over time, public conversation faded. Some believed the illness eased because people adjusted their behaviour. Others assumed treatment advances solved the crisis. The truth is simpler and sharper: HIV is still here.

“The truth is simpler and sharper: HIV is still here.”

Western Ontario’s Kenora region illustrates this reality. Eight HIV cases were recorded between 2013 and 2021. That number now rises each year. The community needs more testing, yet resources arrive slowly. Needle distribution programs and condom promotion likely prevented worse outcomes, but addiction continues to climb. Poverty deepens across Northern Ontario. These conditions create fertile ground for infection.

In 2020, Canada recorded 1,639 newly diagnosed HIV cases. Men accounted for 71.4% of those cases, while women made up 28.6%. The COVID-19 pandemic strained health systems everywhere, limiting testing and treatment access. As a result, tracking the true number of HIV and other bloodborne infections became harder.

Exposure data offers a clearer picture. Among men, 60.8% of cases were linked to male-to-male sexual contact. Injection drug use accounted for 12.8%. Another 3% involved both male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use. Heterosexual contact accounted for 21.8%. Among women, 32.7% of cases stemmed from injection drug use, while 65.8% involved heterosexual contact.

Age patterns remain steady.

• Men: ages 20–29 (24.1%), 30–39 (32.1%), 40–49 (18.3%), 50+ (24.6%)
• Women: ages 20–29 (25.5%), 30–39 (30.6%), 40–49 (18.4%), 50+ (21.8%)

From 2020 to 2023, more than 250 infants were exposed to HIV during pregnancy. Encouragingly, 97.2% of HIV-positive mothers received perinatal antiretroviral therapy, which drastically reduces transmission risk.

In 2018, an estimated 62,050 people were living with HIV in Canada. One in four were women. Half of all people living with HIV identified as gay, or bisexual men. The most alarming statistic is this: one in eight people living with HIV do not know their status. Undiagnosed cases fuel continued transmission. Poverty increases vulnerability, particularly in communities where testing access is inconsistent. Indigenous people represent 14% of new HIV infections, despite making up only 4.9% of Canada’s population.

“HIV touches every layer of society.”

Progress exists. In 2021, 86% of people living with HIV knew their status; 84% of those diagnosed were on treatment. Among those in treatment, 92% achieved viral suppression.

Knowing your viral status remains the strongest protective step.

• Get tested—with your partner, if possible.
• Use protection—condoms, barriers, and lubricants reduce transmission.
• Avoid shared drug-use equipment—anything that punctures or penetrates the skin carries risk.

Medical advances have improved quality of life for many living with HIV. Yet, infection rates increased in 2024, particularly in parts of Africa and the Caribbean, where 1.3 million new infections were reported. Decreased international funding (especially from the United States) threatens prevention and treatment efforts. When funding drops, pain rises. Treatment gaps create suffering for families and entire communities.

HIV touches every layer of society: healthcare systems, family stability, and long-term population health. The last decade proved that individuals carry responsibility for their own well-being. Awareness is no longer optional. Learn what you consume. Protect your body. Viruses evolve. Our vigilance must evolve with them.