Maine HIV Outbreak In Penobscot County Grows To 43 Cases
As of May 18, 2026, public health officials say Penobscot County, Maine, has 43 HIV cases tied to an outbreak that began in October 2023.[1]
Both newly reported Penobscot County cases were diagnosed in April 2026, and officials say the true number of infections likely exceeds detected totals.[1] That 43-case total far exceeds the county's normal average of about two new HIV diagnoses per year.[1]
In October 2023, Maine health officials first linked several HIV infections in the county and opened an investigation.[1] Nearly all people in the Penobscot outbreak reported recent injection drug use or homelessness, and most also tested positive for hepatitis C.[1] Maine CDC, local community groups and visiting U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff have expanded testing, treatment and prevention outreach in response.[1]
The Maine CDC also identified a separate cluster of five HIV cases tied to people who inject drugs in Cumberland County in 2025.[1] Officials are urging broader testing, harm-reduction services and outreach to reach people who inject drugs and people experiencing homelessness.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- As of May 18, 2026, Penobscot County has 43 HIV cases tied to an outbreak that began in October 2023, compared with a normal average of about two new cases per year.
- Both newly reported Penobscot County cases were diagnosed in April 2026, and public health officials warn actual infections likely exceed detected totals.
- Nearly all people in the Penobscot outbreak reported recent injection drug use or homelessness, and most also tested positive for hepatitis C, prompting expanded testing and prevention efforts by Maine CDC, community groups, and visiting U.S. CDC staff.
- The Maine CDC separately identified a cluster of five HIV cases in Cumberland County among people who inject drugs, detected in 2025.
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