Outbreak of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Among Heterosexual Persons Who Are Living Homeless and Inject Drugs — Seattle, Washington, 2018 | MMWR

Outbreak of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Among Heterosexual Persons Who Are Living Homeless and Inject Drugs — Seattle, Washington, 2018 | MMWR

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• Outbreak of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Among Heterosexual Persons Who Are Living Homeless and Inject Drugs — Seattle, Washington, 2018
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Outbreak of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Among Heterosexual Persons Who Are Living Homeless and Inject Drugs — Seattle, Washington, 2018

Weekly / April 19, 2019 / 68(15);344–349

Matthew R. Golden, MD1,2; Richard Lechtenberg, MPH1; Sara N. Glick, PhD1,2; Julie Dombrowski, MD1,2; Jeff Duchin, MD1,2; Jennifer R. Reuer, MPH3; Shireesha Dhanireddy, MD2; Santiago Neme, MD2; Susan E. Buskin, PhD1 (View author affiliations)

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Although diagnoses of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among persons who inject drugs in the United States are declining, an HIV outbreak among such persons in rural Indiana demonstrated that population’s vulnerability to HIV infection.

What is added by this report?

In 2018, disease investigation and molecular HIV surveillance in Seattle, Washington, identified 14 related HIV diagnoses among heterosexuals who were living homeless, most of whom injected drugs. From 2017 to mid-November 2018, the number of HIV diagnoses among heterosexuals in King County, Washington, who inject drugs increased 286%.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Persons who inject drugs, particularly those living homeless, remain vulnerable to outbreaks of HIV infection, even in cities with large HIV prevention programs and shrinking HIV epidemics.