The 78% increase in HIV cases in Quebec in 2022, with 917 cases reported (including 422 new diagnoses), needs to be looked at with some context. Most of this rise is due to a backlog in testing after the pandemic and an influx of migrants, not necessarily a spike in new transmissions. The majority of cases are still among men who have sex with men. It’s also worth pointing out that HIV isn’t the easiest virus to catch—it usually requires specific conditions like exposure to someone with a high viral load who isn’t on medication. That said, using protection is still super important. But before we panic about the numbers, we need to understand what’s really behind them. Free access to PrEP, a daily pill that prevents HIV, could make a huge difference here since the cost is still a barrier for many people.
