Three more people in Penobscot County have tested positive for HIV in the last week, totaling 21 cases since October 2023.
All 21 people who tested positive for HIV reported injecting drugs within a year of being diagnosed, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Meanwhile, only 13 people were connected to care within 30 days of being diagnosed.
The new diagnoses are the latest in a recent surge of cases. In October 2024, a year after the surge began, the county had seen only 13 new cases of HIV, and the county had remained level since August 2024.
Historically, Penobscot County has seen only two new HIV diagnoses annually over the last five years.
Of those who have tested positive for HIV, 20 were also diagnosed with hepatitis C while 19 were homeless within a year of being diagnosed, Maine CDC reported on Thursday.
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.
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 in an effort to combat the rise in cases.
Bangor-area 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.
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.