HIV, STI, Viral Hepatitis, and Harm Reduction Digest
July 15, 2022
Highlights of the week
Join NACCHO’S HSH Team as a Senior Program Analyst-HIV
NACCHO is hiring for Senior Program Analyst -HIV who will work with a broad range of local health department, community-based, and national partners to promote and support Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) and other HIV program initiatives at the local level. The ideal candidate will have knowledge and technical expertise in HIV prevention and control, and experience or expertise related to governmental public health, public health policy, the provision of technical and capacity building assistance, partnership development, and project management.
HIV, STI, Hepatitis, and Harm Reduction Resources and News
2022 STD Prevention Conference: Virtually Possible New Horizons in Sexual Health
Register today for the 2022 STD Prevention Conference. Early bird registration ends July 20, 2022. This year’s conference will be held virtually September 19-22, 2022. Conference details will be posted to the website as information becomes available.
Hepatitis Network for Education and Testing Webinar
The Hepatitis Network for Education and Testing (HepNET) is hosting a Technical Assistance Offerings Spotlight webinar on July 26, at 4PM ET for HepNET members. During this webinar, NASTAD and its partners, NVHR and NACCHO, will spotlight organizations that provide technical assistance (TA) related to offering and integrating hepatitis services for people who use drugs. Presenters will speak about a variety of TA they provide, specifically for people with lived experience and within opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in the United States.
ICYMI: National Monkeypox Vaccine Strategy: Phase One
The Administration released its first phase of its national monkeypox vaccine strategy at the end of June. With this national monkeypox vaccine strategy, the United States is significantly expanding deployment of JYNNEOS vaccines from the Strategic National Stockpile, allocating 296,000 doses over the coming weeks, 56,000 of which will be allocated immediately. Over the coming months a combined 1.6 million additional doses will become available.
For more details about this strategy, please review this fact sheet. We will share more as we get it. Please keep us posted on efforts in your community so we can continue to ensure that the LHD voice is included in these conversations.
See also from CDC: Monkeypox Vaccination Planning Considerations for Health Departments and Providers
New Informational Video on Monkeypox
A new informational video about monkeypox from KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation), producer of Greater Than AIDS and Greater Than COVID. With monkeypox cases increasing in the U.S., this animated video explains what to look out for and what to do if you think you’ve been exposed.
Meningococcal Disease Outbreak in Florida
There is an ongoing outbreak of serogroup C meningococcal disease in Florida, primarily among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, including those living with HIV. This outbreak is on track to be the largest meningococcal disease outbreak among MSM in U.S. history. Recent data show that about half of the cases associated with this outbreak are among Hispanic men.
In response to this outbreak, CDC recommends MSM living in Florida get vaccinated against meningococcal disease with a MenACWY vaccine. In addition, CDC is highlighting that MenACWY vaccination is routinely recommended for all people with HIV in the United States. While this outbreak is mostly affecting people who live in Florida, it has also affected some people who have traveled to the state. Considering this and the number of Pride events being held in the state in the coming weeks, CDC encourages MSM who are traveling to Florida to talk with their healthcare provider about getting vaccinated too.
From the Field: Research, Policy, and Project Updates
CDC Monkeypox Key Messages and Partner Update
The CDC has compiled a document of key messages about the monkeypox outbreak and CDC’s response here. CDC is also hosting a weekly Public Health Partner Update webinar on Thursdays at 1 PM EST. Health department staff, clinicians, and other public health partners can save the recurring webinar event to their calendar by clicking here to download and import the iCalendar (.ics) file to their calendar system.
New Monkeypox Resources on CDC’s Monkeypox Webpage
CDC is sharing two new resources to stay current on Monkeypox information. The Clinicians FAQ answers common questions from healthcare providers and can be used in conjunction with CDC’s Information for Healthcare Professionals. The Social Gatherings, Safer Sex, and Monkeypox is a resource for individuals to help understand and mitigate the risk of contracting Monkeypox. CDC also created a new video, Five Things Sexually Active People Need to Know About Monkeypox, highlighting information and tips for the general public to make informed choices in situations where monkeypox could be spread.
A new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report highlights recent laboratory testing results for monkeypox and discusses ways to improve laboratory response network capacity.
See also from CDC: Laboratory monkeypox resources
- Mayo Clinic Laboratories to Begin Monkeypox Testing Today
- Labcorp Begins Monkeypox Testing
- Information for Laboratory Personnel
- Laboratory Process for Monkeypox
- Test Procedure: Monkeypox virus Generic Real-Time PCR Test
- Aegis Sciences to Begin Monkeypox Testing Today, Increasing Nationwide Testing Capacity
Updated Case-finding Guidance: Monkeypox Outbreak – Unites States, 2022
This Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Update serves to alert clinicians to clinical presentations of monkeypox seen so far in the United States and to provide updated and expanded case definitions intended to encourage testing for monkeypox among persons presenting for care with relevant history, signs, and symptoms. In addition, this Health Update provides an update to a HAN Health Advisory, Monkeypox Virus Infection in the United States and Other Non-endemic Countries—2022, that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued on May 20, 2022.
In the News
- Lesions, headaches, debilitating pain: Gay men with monkeypox share their stories - NBC News
- Monkeypox is spreading. We must move quickly, avoid past mistakes to protect LGBTQ people - USA Today
- Monkeypox cases rise 77% in a week, WHO reports: “Concerned by the scale and spread of the virus” - CBS News
Events and Webinars
Adolescent Focused Motivational Interviewing Workshop
July 18th 1:00 – 4:00pm ET
Hosted by: NCSD
July 19th 3:00-4:00pm ET
Hosted by: NCSD
Creating Career Opportunities for DIS
July 28th 3:00-4:30pm ET
Hosted by: NCSD
