November 20, 2009 | Health Matters

Canadian sun seekers not so safe

They're called snowbirds: Canucks who flee the freezing temperatures of a Canadian winter for the warm Florida beaches. But a recent study from the University of Waterloo may force a few snowbirds to consider how they are spending their time stateside.

People aged 50 and over account for a growing percentage of HIV cases in Florida. And some older Canadians visiting for the winter are not taking the necessary precautions to keep themselves safe from STIs.

"Somebody needs to talk to them about it. The message needs to get out there," Katie Mairs, a gerontology researcher, told an HIV conference in Toronto on Tuesday. In a small survey of 300 snowbirds, Mairs discovered most were sexually active, and about half had dated at least one Floridian.

However, only 18 per cent had ever been tested for HIV. More alarming: less than 25 per cent of men and almost none of the women said they used condoms. 17 per cent of all of Florida's HIV cases are senior citizens, and this number is increasing faster for people over 60 than for people under 40.

"[Snowbirds] have less responsibility down there," she said. "They get together with their friends down there, going out more. It's that Florida lifestyle — have fun, be free."

Maybe they should start posting safer sex information on bingo cards. Just an idea.

Florida snowbirds take risks with HIV: study [CBC]