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Causes HIV is passed through vaginal and anal sexual contact.  This includes both penetrative sex and sexual activities where there is an exchange of body fluids.  There is a very low chance that HIV may be passed through oral...

Vaccines are made from weakened or killed bacteria or virus. When a person is given a vaccine, the body's immune system responds to the ‘invading’ germs. The body creates anti-bodies to the bacteria or virus which protect the person...

During this time, there are very high levels of HIV in the body. This is known as a high viral load. When a person has a high viral load, they can easily pass HIV to others. Causes When a person gets HIV, the virus makes copies called CD4...

HAART prevents the HIV virus from making copies of itself and limits how much virus is in the body. The level of virus in the blood is called ‘viral load’. When the viral load is low, there is less harm to the body’s immune system and...

Hepatitis B is preventable with vaccination. It’s a good idea to check your immunization records to make sure that your vaccines are up-to-date, as there is no cure for hepatitis B. Most adults get hepatitis B for a short time and then get...

Genital warts can be treated. They are a common infection in British Columbia. Causes You get genital warts through vaginal, oral, and anal sexual contact. This includes both penetrative sex and sexual activities where there is skin-to-...

Yeast infections can be treated with over-the-counter medication. Causes The increase in yeast can be triggered by many factors, including taking antibiotics or corticosteroids, or having a lowered immune system. Yeast is not usually...

Molluscum can be treated and often goes away on its own.  It is a common infection in British Columbia. Causes Molluscum can be passed through vaginal, oral, and anal sexual contact. This includes both penetrative sex and sexual...

Window periods are based on averages or statistics from studies. Different HIV tests have different window periods. As HIV testing technology improves, window periods may become more specific or even get shorter. HIV tests used in British...

Hepatitis A usually goes away on its own and is preventable with vaccination.  Hepatitis A typically can last for several weeks, but rarely causes long-term health problems. Causes The hepatitis A is found in the stool of a person who...

If I have HIV, what are the chances that my HIV test will still show negative? To find out, drag the slider to the number of days since you think you were exposed to HIV.   0 days > 100 days 0days Probability of false...

If I have HIV, what are the chances that my HIV test will still show negative? To find out, drag the slider to the number of days since you think you were exposed to HIV.   0 days > 100 days 0days Probability of...

There are several different types of treatment for HPV (genital wart) infection. How you respond to treatment, and how long it takes your body to clear an HPV (genital wart) infection, will depend on your general health and your body's...

Do you think about immunizations when caring for HIV-positive individuals? This World Hepatitis Day (July 28), we are raising awareness on the importance of hepatitis immunizations for people infected with HIV. Immunocompromised people,...

The BCIC Immunization Promotion working group has updated 2 resources available under the Posters & Pamphlets section on the ImmunizeBC website. ImmunizeBC provides evidence-based immunization information and tools for residents of...

Background Since 2009, BCCDC has been using a more sensitive HIV test (known as the NAAT - nucleic acid amplification test) for patients who present for HIV testing at several clinics in downtown Vancouver.   These clinics - the BCCDC...

Article reviewed Patti E. Gravitt. The Known Unknowns of HPV.  J Clin Invest. 2011;121(12):4593-4599. doi:10.1172/JCI57149. Purpose of the study The discovery that certain high-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) cause nearly 100...

If you work with young women, this is important news for you! Earlier this year, BC launched a one-time free HPV vaccine program for all women born in 1991, 1992, and 1993. This is the first time that women born in these years are eligible...

Background Women living with HIV are more likely to be infected with the human papillomavirus (the virus that causes cervical cancer). Not only is HPV infection double in women living with HIV compared to women without HIV, but rates of...

A number of changes have been made to the BCCDC Communicable Disease Control Manual, Chapter 5: Sexually Transmitted Infections: Section 1: STIs.  The BCCDC Non-Certified Practice Decision Support Tools have been updated with the...