Manitoba declared health emergency

The province of Manitoba has declared a public health emergency in response to a dramatic surge in HIV infection rates.

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin reported a 45% increase in new cases over the past year, with up to 70% linked to intravenous drug use.

The crisis is particularly acute within Indigenous communities and urban centers like Winnipeg, where health resources are already strained.

Officials are calling for an immediate expansion of harm reduction services and testing to address what they describe as an unprecedented epidemic.