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We learned a lot at today’s HIV Taskforce meeting, where CDC representatives gave a presentation on the situation in Kanawha County, which they deemed “the most concerning [HIV outbreak] in the U.S.”
Here are some cliff notes:
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Here are some cliff notes:
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- Kanawha recorded 35 HIV cases tied to IV drugs in 2020, one less than NYC (pop. 150x larger) in 2019
- More than 50% of HIV cases in KC are coming through a hospital visit, where patients are already having “a health crisis”
- Of all diagnoses here, 18% have no evidence of care
- More than 50% of HIV cases in KC are coming through a hospital visit, where patients are already having “a health crisis”
- Of all diagnoses here, 18% have no evidence of care
Only four counties out of 3,000 in the U.S. recorded more HIV cases with IV drug use in 2019 than Kanawha did in 2020. Three of those had a median population of more than 4 million people.
The fourth was Cabell County, with 63 HIV cases tied to drugs. That dropped to 37 in 2020.
The fourth was Cabell County, with 63 HIV cases tied to drugs. That dropped to 37 in 2020.
Kanawha County, though, continues to increase: two in 2018, 15 in 2019 and 35 in 2020.
This aligns with overdose data trends, as nearly every county in WV has seen a decrease in fatal ODs since 2017 while Kanawha consistently continues to record ~150 fatalities a year.
This aligns with overdose data trends, as nearly every county in WV has seen a decrease in fatal ODs since 2017 while Kanawha consistently continues to record ~150 fatalities a year.
Dr. Demeter Daskalakis, who heads the CDC’s program on HIV/AIDS prevention, told those at Thursday’s meeting that a needs-based syringe service program could be crucial to reversing this trend in Kanawha County and nearby communities.
While the HIV spread that started in 2018 — after KCHD ended its syringe program — was tied to similar virus spread in Cabell at the same time, current cases are molecularly different, state epidemiologist Shannon McBee said.
In short: THIS. IS. SERIOUS.
There needs to be more buy-in for solutions to these issues as well as education, but the reality is the resources currently exist on the ground to confront the incoming outbreak.
Those in charge need to make the call to support and utilize them.
There needs to be more buy-in for solutions to these issues as well as education, but the reality is the resources currently exist on the ground to confront the incoming outbreak.
Those in charge need to make the call to support and utilize them.
Daskalakis was incredibly clear: the more time wasted arguing and not confronting this problem, the larger it will grow.
HIV is not something that only impacts one sect of our community. It affects us all. It is a public health concern, and treating it needs to be prioritized.
HIV is not something that only impacts one sect of our community. It affects us all. It is a public health concern, and treating it needs to be prioritized.
