PENOBSCOT COUNTY — A 24th person has tested positive for HIV in Penobscot County this month.

According to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a county-wide outbreak first began in October of 2023. Since then, all new cases have been linked to injection drug-use within one year of the diagnosis.

Of those diagnosed, 96% also had Hepatitis C coinfection, and 92% of people were unhoused within one year of diagnosis — according to the Maine CDC.

This newest case is the first to be reported in April. Normally, the county sees an average of two cases per year.

Area nonprofits like Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness and Penobscot County Cares have been connecting people with care and testing resources.

“Raising awareness is deeply important,” said Lisa Sockabasin, Co-CEO of Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness. “Not only does it get those folks that are at higher risk through the doors and served, but it also allows us, the general community, to understand what the risk is to the general population as well as what we can do about it.”

Both non-profits said tackling the issue means reducing the stigma that comes with testing.

“This is critical — trying to really normalize the idea of testing and reduce stigma,” said Doug Dunbar, founder of Penobscot County Cares. “If people fear that they’ll be looked down on, ostracized, treated with disdain — it’s really hard to get people to want to be tested.”

Sockabasin said one way to address stigma is by making sure people are properly informed.

“Information is prevention.” said Sockabasin. “Information also helps to erase bias and stigma.”

Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness offers harm reduction services, needle exchange and more.

“Last April, we served 24 people in our harm reduction services. Just think about that, in April of 2024 we served 24 people,” said Sockabasin. “April of 2025 — and it’s still April so we still have a couple of more days — we served over 400 people.”

Penobscot County Cares has expanded their services by offering free and confidential transportation to testing sites. Dunbar said they will also offer various types of $20 gift cards as an incentive for people to get tested.

“We’re trying to get the word out through every way possible that, confidentially, people can get free transportation,” said Dunbar. “Not just to the testing but if then, there’s the need for follow-up appointments, medical care, we want to get them to those appointments.”

Bangor Public Health and Community Services and Needlepoint Sanctuary are also working to help people amid the outbreak.

You can find resources through the Bangor Public Health and Wellness page, the Needlepoint Sanctuary of Maine Facebook page, Penobscot County Cares and the Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness website.

“What we know to be true is that no one who needs extra love and care and healing should be faced with bias, stigma and hold shame,” said Sockabasin. “That prevents healing, and that’s what we want to do something about is provide that education so people can heal, and people can heal with dignity.”

Sockabasin also said there’s more that people could be doing as individuals.

“That’s what we can all do at home: erase that stigma, erase that bias and lean into love a little bit more,” said Sockabasin. “It heals.”