Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the immune system, the body's natural defense system. Without a strong immune system, the body has trouble fighting off disease. Without HIV treatment, this results in a chronic illness that gets worse over time. When the body can no longer fight the infection, it becomes a disease known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Around 25% of people with HIV infection are unaware of their condition. They may continue to spread the infection without knowing it.
Symptoms
Within a few weeks of initial infection, many people may have fever, rash, joint or muscle pains, enlarged lymph nodes, sore throat, fatigue, headache, oral and/or genital ulcers, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These symptoms last for a week or two then go away until years later.
Other people have no initial symptoms at all. They may appear and feel healthy for several years. But even if they feel healthy, HIV is still affecting their bodies. Without treatment, HIV progresses to AIDS, which results from severe damage to the immune system. AIDS often begins as weight loss, chronic diarrhea, fever and fatigue. The symptoms then progress to those of severe infections or cancers and eventually death.
The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested for it.
Transmission
HIV can be transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluid or breast milk. It can be passed from mother to baby during pregnancy or childbirth or while breast feeding. People who are having condomless anal or vaginal sex can be infected. The risk of infection increases with the number of sexual partners. HIV can also be acquired through sharing needles/syringes or other injection drug use equipment.
Treatment
There is currently no cure for HIV. However, the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduces the amount of HIV in the body, and helps prevent HIV from progressing to AIDS. Treatment also decreases the chance of transmitting HIV to others (treatment as prevention). Due to these medications, HIV is no longer considered a terminal illness. Many people still live long and healthy lives after becoming infected with HIV.
Prevention
Reduce your risk for HIV infection:
- Get tested if you have ever had condomless sex or any exposure to blood
- Get tested regularly if you are at ongoing risk
- Use condoms the right way every time you have anal or vaginal sex
- Choose activities with little to no HIV risk like oral sex (which may still be high risk for other sexually transmitted infections [STI] like syphilis and gonorrhea)
- Don't inject drugs, or if you do, don't share needles, syringes, or other injection equipment
- If you are at ongoing risk for HIV, ask your health care provider if pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is right for you
- If you think you've been exposed to HIV within the last 3 days, ask a health care provider about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) right away. PEP can prevent HIV, but it must be started within 72 hours of being exposed
- Get tested and treated for other STIs
If you are living with HIV
- You can live a long and healthy life with HIV treatment and care
- Find and stay connected to HIV care. It can keep you healthy and help reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others
- Take your HIV medicine as prescribed
- Use condoms the right way every time you have sex, and talk to your partners about PrEP
- Get tested and treated for other STIs
Manitoba Health Resources
For the Public
- Exposure to Infected Blood or Other Body Fluids
(September 2009) - Medications to Reduce the Risk of HIV Infection
(October 2019)
Information on testing
If you have been in contact with blood or other body fluids that you suspect might be infected with HIV, it is critical that you consult a health care provider immediately. Your health care provider may request HIV testing for you.
For Health Care Providers
- Letter to Health Care Providers Re: New – Human Immunodificiency Virus (HIV) Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis on Manitoba Drug Formulary, Effective Fall of 2021
Oct. 22, 2021 - Manitoba HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Prescriber Registration Form
(May 2022) - Eligibility Criteria for Manitoba HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
(October 2021) - Letter to Health care providers Re: Congenital HIV and Congenital Syphilis in Manitoba
(June 3, 2019) - Exposure to Infected Blood or Other Bodily Fluids: Information for Occupational Settings
(September 2009) - Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
(February 2010) - Letter to Health care providers Re: Testing of Bodily Fluids and Disclosure Legislation
(September 15, 2009)
Forms
- HIV/AIDS Case Report
Federal form completed by health care providers and sent to local Medical Officers of Health for the Canadian AIDS Case Reporting Surveillance System.
- Hepatitis B and C, HIV, and Syphilis Investigation Form – Case Form
Completed and sent to Manitoba Health for surveillance purposes. Nominal testing is ordered using the name of the person being tested, whereas non-nominal testing is ordered using an alpha-numerical code for the person being tested. In the latter, only the person ordering the test knows the identity of the person being tested and is able to link the results to that person’s health care record.
- HIV Case Report Form for Anonymous Testing
Completed when the person(s) ordering the test and providing the result do not know the identity of the person being tested. Anonymous testing is ordered using a unique non-identifying code, and only the person being tested knows the code, so the test result is not linked to that person’s health care record. It is not an option for HIV testing in blood/body fluid exposure situations when provision of PEP is being considered.
- HIV Case Report Form for Rapid HIV Testing
Completed for all patients who have refused to have confirmatory standard HIV test following a reactive point of care rapid HIV test result.
- STBBI Contact Notification Form
Completed for reporting of all contacts to Manitoba Health. - Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) HIV Medication Eligibility Form
(July 2021) - HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis Drug Coverage Eligibility with Pharmacy Claims Procedure and Prescription Template
(July 2021)
Manitoba residents with HIV PEP indication (per protocol) who have active Manitoba Health Coverage and are not currently enrolled in a full medication coverage program (100% coverage) are eligible for coverage under this program if form completed by prescriber. Form can also be used as a PEP prescription template.
- Manitoba HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Prescriber Registration Form
(September 2021) - HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Drug Order Form
(February 2019)
Completed by distribution depots for ordering of PEP starter kits from Tache Pharmacy. A listing of HIV PEP kit depots and their contact information is available here.
Other Resources
- Application to Obtain an Expedited Testing Order under The Testing of Bodily Fluids and Disclosure Act
- Sexuality Education Resource Centre MB
- Public Health Agency of Canada - HIV Reports and Publications
- Public Health Agency of Canada - Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), Sexual Health Facts and Information for the Public
- Testing of Bodily Fluids and Disclosure Act
- Testing of Bodily Fluids and Disclosure Regulation
- SexualityandU.ca - Viral STIs-STDs
- Statement on behalf of the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health
Communicable Disease
Control (CDC) Health Links – Info Santé |