Manitoba Health Officials are responding to a notable spike in HIV cases in the Swan Valley area.
According to a CBC interview with Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial public health officer more than 40 new HIV diagnoses have been reported in Swan Valley since October of last year.
Public health authorities established an "outbreak kind of response" by increasing access to testing, asking close contacts of new diagnoses to get tested, and providing treatment.
The province's top doctor acknowledged Manitoba has experienced year-over-year increases in new HIV diagnoses.
The 280 new cases in 2023 marked a 40 percent increase compared with the previous year.
Even then, Dr. Roussin notes what's happening in Swan Valley stands out.
The Main issue cited is the use of intravenous drug use, as many users will not have access to, or use clean needles.
It also creates an issue of contaminated sharps scattered across the area that could potentially infect others.
Resources are available to report on sharps found in public and have them pricked up safely.
More information can be found at the Prairie Mountain Health Website
