Over the past two years, Penobscot County in Maine has experienced its largest HIV outbreak, with 26 cases since October 2023, primarily among homeless individuals and drug users, driven by factors like housing shortages, drug use, and strained healthcare resources. Public health efforts have focused on testing, harm reduction, and outreach, but funding cuts and service closures threaten to hinder ongoing response efforts.
Maine has reported its first human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) since 2015, involving a Penobscot County resident who remains hospitalized. The Maine CDC is awaiting confirmation from the U.S. CDC. This year, Maine has also seen two human cases of West Nile virus, with one locally contracted. EEE and other mosquito-borne viruses like West Nile and Jamestown Canyon are spread through mosquito bites, not human-to-human contact. Health officials urge vigilance for symptoms, as severe cases can lead to encephalitis and meningitis.
