Spike In HIV Cases Among Needle Users Seen: King County

SEATTLE, WA - King County health officials have noticed spike in HIV cases among heterosexual injection drug users. It's unusual for heterosexual people to have high rates of HIV infection in King County, according to health officials.

So far in 2018, 19 heterosexuals have tested positive for HIV. Health officials usually only diagnose about 10 HIV cases in heterosexuals in King County each year. Health officials also found a cluster of eight homeless individuals in North Seattle with HIV. They were all using injected drugs, according to health officials.

"Driven by this cluster, local public health officials are concerned that new cases among heterosexuals who inject drugs, as well those having unprotected sex with people using injection drugs or exchanging sex for money or drugs, could increase if steps are not taken to limit the spread of infection," King County wrote in a bulletin about the HIV cases.

Heroin and methamphetamine are the drugs most associated with the recent spike in HIV cases.

“This cluster is unusual and worrying, suggesting that we are seeing an increase in HIV among heterosexuals who inject drugs, and that HIV could be gaining inroads into the heterosexual population through injection drug use,” said Dr. Matthew Golden, MD, Director of the county's HIV/STD Program, in a press release. “Changes in drug use patterns, with greater mixing between heroin users and people who inject methamphetamine, may be putting more people at risk for HIV.”

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