Bureau for Public Health

Office of Emergency Medical Services

WV HAN Advisory 139 Increase in New HIV Infections Reported in West Virginia 08102017

While the information contained in this news article was current and accurate when we posted it, it may not necessarily represent current WVOEMS policy or procedure. If you have any questions, please contact our office at 304-558-3956.

Posted: Monday, August 14, 2017 11:15 AM

TO:                  WV Healthcare Providers, Hospitals, and other Healthcare Facilities

FROM:            Rahul Gupta, MD, MPH, FACP

DATE:             August 11, 2017

 

The Bureau for Public Health is investigating an increase in newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in the State among persons at high risk for infection. In addition to syphilis (reported among several of the cases), this at-risk population remains at high risk for hepatitis B and C infection.

The Bureau for Public Health utilizes skilled professionals called Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) who are trained to identify and locate contacts (e.g. partners) through in-depth case interviews, always maintaining patient confidentiality. To contact the DIS assigned to your area, please call the West Virginia STD/HIV Hotline at 1 (800) 642-8244.

Healthcare providers can assist public health in identifying and preventing new HIV cases by considering the following recommendations:

  • Assess patient risk by asking about sexual history and drug use in a sensitive and confidential manner.
  • Encourage all adults, age 15 through 65, to be tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime.
  • Encourage patients at high risk for HIV to get tested at least annually. High risk populations include injection drug users, men who have sex with men, persons with multiple sex partners, and persons diagnosed with sexually-transmitted diseases.
  • Discuss ways to lower HIV risk including condom use, never sharing needles, and taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for patients at very high risk for HIV. Additional information on PrEP is available at https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/prep.
  • Collaborate with the DIS to link HIV patients to care, and ensure that partners/contacts are identified and offered testing.
  • Assist public health in re-engaging previously diagnosed HIV cases who are not currently in care.
  • Report positive HIV cases to the Bureau for Public Health, Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services

within one week. For more information on reporting, visit http://www.dhhr.wv.gov/oeps/std-hiv-hep/disease reporting/Pages/default.aspx.

To report clusters or outbreaks of HIV, contact the Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services, Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology (DIDE) at (304) 558-5358, ext. 1 or the answering service at (304) 925-9946.

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wv han advisory 139 increase in new hiv infections reported in west virginia 08.10.2017 final.pdf