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Home / Resources / STI Updates (Blog) / Trend watch / Dashboard update: HIV and STIs in BC in Q1 of 2017

Dashboard update: HIV and STIs in BC in Q1 of 2017

This is the dashboard report on HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) trends in for the first quarter of 2017 (January – March 2017). These reports are posted quarterly to provide a snapshot of HIV and STIs in British Columbia.

The dashboard below describes the numbers of HIV and STI cases reported to public health in the first quarter (Q1) of 2017. The risk factor categories for HIV (MSM, PWID and HET; see table below for definitions) are from the third quarter (Q3) of 2016 due to expected reporting delays.


HIV

There have been 57 new HIV diagnoses in BC so far in 2017, which was the same number of cases in 2016 at this time. This quarter is within the expected fluctuation of new HIV diagnoses for the past 5 years.

The number of cases among men (n=54) increased slightly this quarter compared to 2016Q1. However, the increase was within the usual fluctuation of HIV diagnoses for the past 5 years. The number of cases among women decreased. Overall, this is consistent with the decreasing trend of HIV cases among women over the past decade.

The number of new HIV diagnoses among heterosexual individuals and people who use injection drugs decreased in 2016Q1-3 compared to 2015Q1-3. Note, only 2016Q1-3 is presented due to reporting delays.

Chlamydia

There have been 3,988 cases of chlamydia reported in 2017 thus far, which is a 5% increase from this time period in 2016. Overall, this is consistent with the average year-to-year increase in chlamydia cases over the past decade.

Gonorrhea

The number of gonorrhea cases in BC so far in 2017 dropped slightly (n=773), compared to the same time period in 2016 (n=847). However the drop was within the expected number of new gonorrhea cases based on the last 5 years.

Infectious Syphilis

There have been 166 cases of infectious syphilis reported in BC for 2017Q1, which is a drop from 193 cases in 2016Q1. The number of cases among females remained the same for 2017Q1 compared to 2016Q1, while the number of cases among males decreased by 15%.

MSM continue to be the group disproportionately affected by infectious syphilis. However, along with the overall drop in male cases this quarter, a similar decrease (11%) among MSM was noted.