Manitoba just hit the panic button. The province has declared a public health emergency as HIV infection rates explode to levels unseen anywhere else in Canada—nearly four times the national average.
Dr. Brent Roussin, the province’s top public health officer, delivered the grim numbers at a press conference: 19.5 new cases per 100,000 people in 2024. That’s more than three and a half times Canada’s overall rate of 5.5. And the trajectory is terrifying—328 new HIV cases recorded in 2025 alone, compared to just 142 in 2021.
The crisis isn’t spread evenly. The Northern and Prairie Mountain Health regions are being hit hardest, though Winnipeg bears the highest raw numbers. Indigenous communities are bearing an outsized burden, a stark reminder of deep systemic inequities.
“This is significant; it’s concerning,” Roussin said, his voice carrying the weight of urgency. He made it clear that this isn’t a problem for one agency to solve—it demands coordinated action from governments, health systems, and community leaders.
What’s driving the spike? A deadly cocktail of injection drug use, homelessness, and untreated mental health struggles. Add to that a surge in sexually transmitted infections and crushing barriers to healthcare access, and you have a perfect storm.
The province isn’t standing still. Over $8 million has been funneled into HIV treatment and prevention in the last four years. Officials are working hand-in-hand with Indigenous leaders, community organizations, and federal partners to attack the root causes.
“We want to increase awareness, increase access to prevention, testing, treatment and harm reduction,” Roussin said. But his message was clear: this emergency declaration isn’t about spreading fear. It’s about facing reality with the speed and seriousness it demands.
