A year after Penobscot County began to see a swell of new HIV and hepatitis C infections, the number of cases has stalled but the state doesn’t consider the surge over yet.
Thirteen people in Penobscot County have tested positive for HIV since Oct. 1, 2023, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those, all tested positive for hepatitis C and reported injecting drugs in the last year. Eleven of the 13 people were also unhoused in the last year.
Eight of the 13 who tested positive were linked to care within 30 days of their diagnosis, the Maine CDC reported.
The spike in cases far exceeds the annual average of two new HIV diagnoses that Penobscot County has typically seen over the last five years.
The surge in new HIV and hepatitis C diagnoses, especially among people who inject drugs and are experiencing homelessness, was a blow for a region that already has multiple organizations that offer testing, prevention, education and treatment for the diseases.
While the number of cases has remained at 13 since mid-August, the Maine CDC doesn’t consider a cluster over until six months have passed without a new case connected to the group, said Lindsay Hammes, a spokesperson for the Maine CDC.
Until that happens, Hammes said the Maine CDC will continue to collaborate with Bangor area partners and health system leaders to expand access to testing for HIV and hepatitis C and connect patients to care.
While the first case of HIV and hepatitis C arose in early October, state and local resources stepped up resources after three people tested positive by February.
By May, the number of new HIV cases within the cluster rose to six before more than doubling by August.
