Penobscot County HIV Outbreak Reaches 43 Cases as Drug Use and Homelessness Drive Spread
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 18
Penobscot County HIV Outbreak Reaches 43 Cases as Drug Use and Homelessness Drive Spread
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 18
Two newly reported infections diagnosed in April pushed Penobscot County's HIV outbreak to 43 cases, far above the county's usual pace of about two new cases a year.
Nearly all infected people reported injecting drugs or experiencing homelessness within a year of diagnosis, and Maine health officials warned the true case count is likely higher.
Community groups have expanded testing and prevention work, while U.S. CDC staff visited the county in December to support the response.
Nearly all outbreak patients also tested positive for hepatitis C; among 41 patients living in Maine, more than three-quarters entered care within 30 days and 59% had reached viral suppression.
What systemic failures allowed a county that typically sees two HIV cases a year to suddenly face an outbreak of over 40?
With new long-acting injections able to prevent HIV, why are outbreaks linked to needle sharing still surging in places like Maine?
As Maine battles its worst HIV outbreak, how will proposed federal funding cuts impact its fight against the virus and homelessness?