Maine: HIV Surges Among Gays

After years of relatively stable levels of HIV infection in Maine, a growing number of gay and bisexual men are contracting the disease. State data show gay and bisexual men in Maine comprise about 71 percent of 41 cases recorded so far this year, up from 38 percent of 51 cases in 2000. "What we could be seeing is a resurgence of HIV around the corner," said Mark Griswold, a state HIV/STD epidemiologist.

For several years, federal health officials have noted the faster rate of HIV infection among U.S. gay and bisexual men, but state health experts say that trend lagged in Maine because of its smaller population.

HIV's resurgence seems more likely because more gay and bisexual men in Maine are also being diagnosed with other STDs, which make the immune system more susceptible to HIV, said health experts. Gay and bisexual men now represent 44 percent of the 142 gonorrhea cases recorded to date for 2003, up from 34 percent of 90 gonorrhea cases in 2000. The ratio for syphilis is even higher: gay and bisexual men account for about three-quarters of this year's 11 cases.

There are plans to retool the state's prevention campaign because safe sex messages have grown stale, especially with younger men, said Charles Dwyer, the state's HIV/STD program coordinator. Dwyer said he would call on people with HIV to talk about how the disease is "no piece of cake."

"We need to get people involved, explaining and talking," said George Friou, executive director of Frannie Peabody Center, one of Maine's largest AIDS organizations.

Maine is spending about $1.9 million in federal and state funds for HIV prevention activities and about $300,000 for STD control and prevention this year. Because of flat funding for several years and rising administrative expenses, the state has been shifting more costs onto community providers and doing less reimbursement for STD tests.

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