Two more people in Penobscot County tested positive for HIV in the last week, bringing the total to 18 new cases since October 2023.
All 18 people also tested positive for hepatitis C and reported injecting drugs within a year of being diagnosed, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Sixteen of the 18 people were homeless within a year of being diagnosed, and 11 were connected to care within 30 days after testing positive, the Maine CDC reported.
Two new cases in a week are especially alarming considering Penobscot County has seen only two new HIV diagnoses annually over the last five years.
HIV is a virus that attacks a person’s immune system, destroying cells that fight infection and disease, according to the CDC. It can be controlled with proper medical treatment, but there is no cure.
Hepatitis C is a liver infection that can be a short-term illness in some people, but becomes a chronic condition in more than half and leads to serious and life-threatening conditions such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, according to the CDC.
In October 2023, the Maine CDC identified a cluster of new HIV cases in Penobscot County, especially among people who inject drugs and those who are homeless. To combat the rise in cases, the state is working with local resources to increase HIV and hepatitis C testing among at-risk groups and connect people with HIV to treatment.
Community organizations including Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness and Needlepoint Sanctuary also offer supplies such as sterile syringes to people who inject drugs in an effort to stop the sharing or reusing needles, which can spread bloodborne diseases.
