Bangor public health reports 36 outbreak cases, details SSP rule changes and warming-center use
February 03, 2026 | Bangor City, Penobscot County, Maine
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Bangor Public Health Director Jennifer Gunderman gave the committee an update on an ongoing HIV and hepatitis C outbreak, syringe service programs (SSPs) and local warming-center activity.
Gunderman said the Maine CDC is reporting 36 outbreak cases, with more than half of those cases recorded in 2025. She said a federal CDC team spent about two weeks in Bangor conducting interviews and providing recommendations. To reduce barriers to diagnosis and care, the department plans to expand self-testing and improve access to confirmatory blood draws by coordinating with clinical partners.
"There are opportunities for improving system efficiency, such as getting a blood draw done when there's an HIV test done," Gunderman said, explaining the need for venous blood draws to confirm antibody tests.
On syringe service programs, Gunderman said organizations apply to Maine CDC, which approves applications and then notifies municipalities. She described state rule changes under development that will certify an SSP’s operational area (allowing additional locations or mobile services), permit delivery of syringes, and include a roughly 1,000-foot buffer from school property in local application reviews. Gunderman also described evidence-based, needs-based distribution practices and said Bangor Public Health has visited active SSP sites to review models and identify gaps.
Gunderman presented usage figures for warming centers and day services: one non-city-funded site averaged about 18 people nightly (peaking to 29 on one weekend), the Brick Church warming center reported 129 unique individuals served across a Nov–Dec reporting window and averaged about 36 guests per night, and Together Place reported 312 unique individuals served and about 1,225 bed stays. According to staff, city-funded spending for the reviewed period equaled roughly $31,156, or about $11 per bed-night.
She also gave updates on federal funding: a rental-assistance NOFO that initially threatened a 70% cut will preserve the city’s second-year funding after court action, and a brief SAMHSA funding interruption on Jan. 14 was reversed before staff reductions would have been required.
Gunderman said the Maine CDC is reporting 36 outbreak cases, with more than half of those cases recorded in 2025. She said a federal CDC team spent about two weeks in Bangor conducting interviews and providing recommendations. To reduce barriers to diagnosis and care, the department plans to expand self-testing and improve access to confirmatory blood draws by coordinating with clinical partners.
"There are opportunities for improving system efficiency, such as getting a blood draw done when there's an HIV test done," Gunderman said, explaining the need for venous blood draws to confirm antibody tests.
On syringe service programs, Gunderman said organizations apply to Maine CDC, which approves applications and then notifies municipalities. She described state rule changes under development that will certify an SSP’s operational area (allowing additional locations or mobile services), permit delivery of syringes, and include a roughly 1,000-foot buffer from school property in local application reviews. Gunderman also described evidence-based, needs-based distribution practices and said Bangor Public Health has visited active SSP sites to review models and identify gaps.
Gunderman presented usage figures for warming centers and day services: one non-city-funded site averaged about 18 people nightly (peaking to 29 on one weekend), the Brick Church warming center reported 129 unique individuals served across a Nov–Dec reporting window and averaged about 36 guests per night, and Together Place reported 312 unique individuals served and about 1,225 bed stays. According to staff, city-funded spending for the reviewed period equaled roughly $31,156, or about $11 per bed-night.
She also gave updates on federal funding: a rental-assistance NOFO that initially threatened a 70% cut will preserve the city’s second-year funding after court action, and a brief SAMHSA funding interruption on Jan. 14 was reversed before staff reductions would have been required.
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