Number of new HIV infections hits record low, says Vancouver Coastal Health

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Vancouver Coastal Health says it’s on track to record the lowest number of new HIV cases in a single year since the virus became reportable more than fifteen years ago.

VCH is marking National HIV Testing Day by releasing data showing it has recorded 26 new diagnoses so far this year. In 2018, 86 people were diagnosed with the virus.

In a release, the health authority says this shows that made in B.C. solutions which inlcude outreach to marginalized communities, immediate and free access to antiretroviral drugs are working.

“When VCH and Providence Health Care embarked on the provincial STOP HIV/AIDS program in 2009, one in five Canadians living with HIV were estimated to be unaware that they have HIV, and we saw too many people newly diagnosed with HIV already in the advanced stages of disease,” says VCH Medical Health Officer Dr. John Harding.

“Today in our region, people are being diagnosed and linked to care earlier, which can prolong and improve people’s lives, as well as reduce transmission to others,” he adds.

Doctors are encouraging people to get tested in order to further lower the number of new cases. Free HIV testing is available at walk-in clinics, the BC Centre for Disease control, hospitals, and community health clinics.

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During the Canada Post strike announced September 25, 2025, the following measures will be undertaken to minimize service disruption to BC-CfE clients and providers.

  • The BC-CfE Laboratory has transitioned to private courier for delivery of outgoing reports and documents. Results required urgently can be faxed upon request. (Lab Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8775; FAX 604-806-9463)
  • The BC-CfE Drug Treatment Program (DTP) will fax outgoing forms and documents to the provider’s office. (DTP Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8515; FAX 604-806-9044)
  • St. Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy has transitioned to private courier for delivery of medications. We recommend requesting medication at least 2 weeks in advance in case of delivery delays, particularly to rural/remote parts of BC. (Contact Information: Phone 1-800-547-3622; FAX 604-806-8675)

During the Canada Post strike, we recommend that documents be faxed or couriered to our sites, versus utilization of regular mail service

The BC-CfE Laboratory is streamlining reporting processes for certain tests in order to simplify distribution and record-keeping, and to ensure completeness of results. Beginning September 2, 2025, results for the ‘Resistance Analysis of HIV-1 Protease and Reverse Transcriptase’ (Protease-RT) and ‘HIV-1 Integrase Resistance Genotype’ tests will be combined into a single ‘HIV-1 Resistance Genotype Report’.
For more details and example reports, please click on the button below