Thousands of people are unaware they have the disease and may be spreading it unknowingly
The best way to eliminate HIV and AIDS in Canada is to test everyone for the virus, regardless of whether they are at risk or not, according to one of the world’s leading experts on the disease.
Dr. Julio Montaner, the director of British Columbia’s Centre for Excellence in HIV and AIDS, says that in B.C. alone, 2,000 of the 15,000 people with HIV/AIDS don’t even know they’re infected and so are more likely to spread the virus.
“What we have come to recognize is that there are pockets of people who are HIV infected who are not aware … not only that they’re not infected, but not aware of their risk of HIV infection.”
It’s estimated one in six people have an advanced form of HIV by the time they’re diagnosed, and that more than half of new infections are transmitted by people who don’t know they have HIV.
“The only way that we can get at them is if we ask all of the people in B.C. to confirm the fact that they’re not infected,” Montaner said.
“Finding them is critical,” said the doctor, who wants universal testing across Canada.
“In finding them, we will stop the epidemic … By bringing them out, we’re able to help them help themselves accessing treatment that is life-saving, but in addition, that stops HIV transmission.”