HIV in Ontario

UNAIDS Goals

When it comes to world HIV goals, UNAIDS has now set the target at 95 – 95 – 95. What does that mean?

1. 95 percent of people living with HIV know their status
   
2. 95 percent of those diagnosed are on treatment
   
3. 95 percent of people on treatment have an undetectable viral load
   

Ontario is close to reaching global HIV goals, with strong successes with HIV treatment getting people living with HIV to an undetectable level, but more work is needed in testing and linking people to care.

In Ontario (data from 2020 GMSH):

• 89 percent of people living with HIV know their status
  
• 86.7 percent of those diagnosed are currently taking HIV medicine as treatment
  
• 97.8 percent of people on treatment have an undetectable viral load that won’t show up on an HIV test
  

What Does This Mean?

More HIV testing needs to be done, especially for folks at risk. And the transfer from diagnosis to care needs to be smoother and more accessible so that treatment can begin.

Early testing finds HIV sooner so people can start treatment, and good care helps people live long, healthy lives. It also helps stop the spread of the virus which means fewer new HIV diagnoses in our communities.

Who Is Affected and What’s Changed

• Gay, bi, and queer men still account for most new cases, but their numbers fell again in 2021, likely because PrEP use increased sharply.
  
• Black men saw diagnoses drop for a second year, though they remain over-represented.
  
• White men and Black women also experienced significant drops in new cases.
  

The Impact of COVID-19

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, HIV testing and new infections fell because people had less in-person contact. In 2021, testing bounced back by 22 percent as social activities began to return to normal.

How You Can Help

• Get tested if you’ve ever had risk (condom break, shared needles, or other exposure).
  
• Talk about U = U with your friends to reduce fear and stigma.
  
• Support others in getting care and staying on treatment.
  
• Use prevention.  Ask about PrEP or other options if you’re HIV-negative and at risk.
  

Reaching the 95, 95, 95 targets will save lives and stop new HIV infections. Together, we can make Ontario a leader in ending HIV.