HIV Cases in Canada Increase by Over 30 Percent

New HIV diagnoses in Canada surged again in 2023, increasing by more than 30 percent from the previous year, according to government data.
New HIV infections decreased by 21.9 percent between 2010 and 2021, while HIV-related deaths dropped by 39.7 percent. The largest declines in both HIV incidence and mortality occurred in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the study said.
HIV infection rates were highest among young Canadians, with the 30 to 39 age group leading at 14.3 cases per 100,000 people. Second most affected were ages 25 to 29, with a rate of 13.9. Canadians aged 40 to 59 had the third-highest rate, at 8.6 cases per 100,000.​
Saskatchewan and Manitoba reported the highest rates of new HIV cases in Canada in 2023, with 19.4 and 19.3 cases per 100,000 people, respectively. Ontario followed with a rate of six cases per 100,000, while Quebec and Alberta shared fourth place at 5.4 cases per 100,000.
HIV-positive people can have long and healthy lives if they receive and stay on treatment.
If left untreated, HIV can lead to acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS, which is the most advanced stage of the infection. At this point, the body is at risk of contracting life-threatening infections and diseases due to severe damage to the immune system.