The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has dispatched a team to Penobscot County, Maine, to assist local health officials in addressing a significant HIV outbreak. The CDC staff arrived in the Bangor area on Monday and will remain until December 19, 2025, providing essential support as cases continue to rise.
This federal assistance was initially requested in September but was delayed due to the government shutdown in October. The outbreak, first identified over two years ago, has predominantly affected individuals who inject drugs or those experiencing homelessness. By October 2025, the number of confirmed cases in Penobscot County had reached 30.
Urgent Need for Resources and Expertise
The CDC’s involvement comes at a critical time, as public health officials seek to understand the outbreak’s scope and impact. According to Matt Wellington, associate director of the Maine Public Health Association, the state is not equipped to handle an HIV outbreak of this magnitude independently. “We don’t have the full picture of how widely this has spread,” Wellington explained to the Bangor Daily News. He emphasized the need for additional resources to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation.
The CDC team comprises four epidemic intelligence service officers who will conduct interviews with those affected by the outbreak. They will also assist in developing educational materials for healthcare providers, response partners, and community members to enhance awareness and prevention efforts.
The CDC had previously provided technical support on the ground in August 2025. During the recent government shutdown, the agency paused plans to send field epidemiologists to the area, as travel was not authorized. Despite this, the CDC has a history of deploying support teams during public health emergencies, even during previous government shutdowns.
Outbreak Expands Beyond Penobscot County
The urgency of the CDC’s involvement is underscored by the emergence of new HIV cases in surrounding areas. Recent analyses by the Maine CDC revealed five new HIV cases in Cumberland County this year, particularly among individuals who inject drugs. Public health officials in the Portland area are already preparing for a potential increase in cases as the outbreak in Penobscot County escalates.
Efforts are underway to expand access to testing and other resources in response to this alarming trend. As local health departments in Bangor and beyond strive to contain the outbreak, the collaboration with federal health officials aims to mitigate further spread of the virus.
The situation remains fluid, and public health authorities are closely monitoring developments. Continued support from the CDC is expected to enhance the capacity of Maine’s public health infrastructure in tackling this urgent health crisis.
