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Maine CDC Health Advisory
April 19, 2024
HIV Cluster Update and Prevention, Testing, and Treatment Recommendations
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has identified three additional new HIV diagnoses among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Penobscot County. There are now a total of six confirmed cases associated with this cluster; five of the newly diagnosed individuals were unhoused at the time of their diagnosis. Some of the individuals recently diagnosed with HIV had previous contact with the health care system, including missed opportunities for HIV testing.
Clinicians should increase vigilance for signs and symptoms of acute HIV and to increase testing for HIV and HCV. Patients may not disclose risk factors. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) recommends HIV testing at least once for those 13 to 64, or more often for those with ongoing risk factors. HCV testing is recommended at least once for those 18 and older, utilizing an opt-out approach.
Following the recent detection of this cluster of HIV diagnoses, Maine CDC recommends testing people with ongoing risk factors, statewide, at least every three months.
