Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a global public health issue with an estimated 1.8 million people newly infected in 2017. Objective: To provide a descriptive overview of reported cases of HIV in Canada by geographic location, sex, age group, exposure category and race/ethnicity, from 1985-2017, with a focus on the most recent data. Methods: The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) monitors HIV through the national HIV/ AIDS Surveillance System, which is a passive, case-based system that collates non-nominal data voluntarily submitted and validated by all Canadian provinces and territories. Additional data sources presented here include data on immigration-related medical screening for HIV by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and data on infants perinatally-exposed to HIV submitted by the Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program. Data were collated, tables and figures were prepared and descriptive statistics were applied by PHAC and validated by each province and territory. Results: A total of 2,402 new HIV diagnoses were reported in 2017 in Canada; an increase of 3% compared with 2016 and an increase of 17.1% since 2014. The national diagnosis rate increased slightly, from 6.4 per 100,000 population in 2016 to 6.5 per 100,000 population in 2017. In 2017, while Ontario continued to account for the highest number (n=935) and proportion (38.9%) of reported HIV cases, Saskatchewan reported the highest provincial diagnosis rate (15.5 per 100,000 population). In 2017, the diagnostic rate for males at 9.9 per 100,000 population was higher than for females at 3.2 per 100,000 population. As in 2016, the 30-39 year age group had the highest HIV diagnosis rate at 14.8 per 100,000 population. The "gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men" exposure category continued to represent almost half (46.4%) of all reported HIV cases in adults. In 2017, the absolute number of HIV-positive migrants entering Canada increased to a total number of 835 migrants. One mother-to-child HIV transmission was confirmed in a mother who did not receive any perinatal antiretroviral therapy and two transmissions were confirmed in mothers who did receive perinatal antiretroviral therapy. Conclusion: Similar to the annual changes that have been reported since 2014, the number and rate of reported HIV cases in Canada in 2017 increased slightly compared with 2016. Additional data and analysis are needed to determine the extent to which these findings reflect an increase in HIV transmission, an increase in HIV testing, changes in reporting practices and an increase in the number of HIV-positive people migrating to Canada.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a global public health issue. HIV has been nationally notifiable in Canada since 1985. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) monitors trends in new HIV diagnoses. Objectives: The objective of this surveillance report is to provide an overview of the epidemiology of reported HIV cases in 2019 in Canada. The report highlights 10-year trends (2010–2019). Data on HIV diagnosed through Immigration Medical Exams (IME) and trends in perinatal transmission of HIV are also presented. Methods: PHAC monitors HIV through the HIV/AIDS Surveillance System, a passive, case-based system that collates non-nominal data submitted voluntarily by all Canadian provinces and territories. Descriptive analyses were conducted on national data. IME data were obtained from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and data on HIV-exposed pregnancies were obtained through the Canadian Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program. Results: In 2019, a total of 2,122 HIV diagnoses were reported in Canada (5.6 per 100,000 population). Saskatchewan reported the highest provincial diagnosis rate at 16.9 per 100,000 population. The 30 to 39-year age group had the highest HIV diagnosis rate at 12.7 per 100,000 population. While the rates for both males and females fluctuated in the past decade, since 2010 the rates among males decreased overall, while the rate among females increased slightly. As in previous years, the diagnosis rate for males in 2019 was higher than that for females (7.9 versus 3.4 per 100,000 population, respectively). The highest proportion of all reported adult cases with known exposure were gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM, 39.7%), followed by cases attributed to heterosexual contact (28.3%) and among people who inject drugs (PWID, 21.5%). The number of migrants who tested positive for HIV during an IME conducted in Canada was 626. The one documented perinatal HIV transmission related to a mother who had not received antepartum or intrapartum antiretroviral therapy prophylaxis. Conclusion: The number and rate of reported HIV cases in Canada has remained relatively stable over the last decade, with minor year-to-year variations. As in previous years, the gbMSM and PWID populations represent a high proportion of HIV diagnoses, although a sizable number of cases were attributed to heterosexual contact. It is important to routinely monitor trends in HIV in light of pan-Canadian commitments to reduce the health impact of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections by 2030.

IntroductionCertain types of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) are sexually transmitted and highly associated with development of cervical dysplasia and cervical cancer but the distribution of HPV infection in the North, particularly amongst First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples, is little known. The purposes of the study are to identify the prevalence of type-specific HPV infections and the association of different HPV types with cervical dysplasia among women in Northern Canada.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study with attendants of the routine or scheduled Pap testing program in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Nunavut, Labrador and Yukon, Canada. Approximately half of each sample was used for Pap test and the remaining was used for HPV genotyping using a Luminex-based method. Pap test results, HPV types, and demographic information were linked for analyses.ResultsResults from 14,598 specimens showed that HPV infection was approximately 50% higher among the Aboriginal than the non-Aboriginal population (27.6% vs. 18.5%). Although the most common HPV type detected was HPV 16 across region, the prevalence of other high risk HPV types was different. The age-specific HPV prevalence among Aboriginal showed a ‘U’ shape which contrasted to non-Aboriginal. The association of HPV infection with cervical dysplasia was similar in both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations.ConclusionsThe HPV prevalence was higher in Northern Canada than in other Areas in Canada. The prevalence showed a higher rate of other high risk HPV infections but no difference of HPV 16/18 infections among Aboriginal in comparison with non-Aboriginal women. This study provides baseline information on HPV prevalence that may assist in surveillance and evaluation systems to track and assess HPV vaccine programs.

Background: Chlamydia continues to be the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection in Canada. Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), caused by certain serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis, is becoming established in some populations in a number of Western countries.

Background: Hepatitis C is a highly transmissible virus that can lead to chronic liver disease. It continues to be a major public health concern in Canada. Objective: To describe surveillance trends of reported cases of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Canada by age and sex from 1991-2012. Methods: Cases of HCV reported to the Canadian Notifiable Disease Surveillance System were compiled at the national level. As most reported cases are not differentiated by acute or chronic HCV infection status, presented results are based on total HCV cases. Time trends are provided from 1991-2012, with a more detailed examination of age and sex patterns from 2005-2012. Results: The rate of reported HCV infection increased sharply from 1991 (the year it was first notifiable) until 1998, when the highest overall rate of 66.9 per 100,000 was observed. From that time until 2012, rates of reported cases decreased in both sexes, but remained consistently higher among males than females. In 2012, the overall rate of reported HCV infection was 29.3 per 100,000. In younger age groups, rates among females were marginally higher, while males in older age groups (30 and above) exhibited substantially higher rates. Conclusion: This surveillance summary presents the longer-term trends in reported cases and corresponding rates of HCV in Canada using national surveillance data. Canada continues to experience a downward trend in HCV rates; however, the burden of infection will continue to increase as chronically infected individuals develop severe illness.