(P51) HIV AMONG NEW ARRIVALS IN CHICAGO, IL JANUARY 1, 2023-MARCH 25, 2024

Background:
Since 2022, Chicago has welcomed over 37,000 new arrivals, mostly from Venezuela but arriving from all over the world. In response, Cook County Health established a clinic to provide screening for adults and children. As part of the comprehensive medical assessment, adults are screened for HIV and STIs.

Methods:
A new case of HIV is defined as not previously reported via enhanced HIV/AIDS reporting system (eHARS) to the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and having not lived within the U.S. prior to 2022. Surveillance data for newly reported HIV cases to CDPH among new arrivals via Chicago Health Information Management System (CHIMS) were matched to eHARS and shelter census data. Descriptive data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 version.

Results:
During January 1, 2023-March 25, 2024, 253 new to Chicago HIV cases were reported to CDPH. Most cases were among assigned male at birth (77%), Hispanics (86%), and between the ages of 30-39 years (41%). While majority of cases reported men who has sex with men transmission (51%), a larger proportion reported heterosexual transmission (17%) compared. The majority of cases were linked to care within 1 month of being screened in Chicago (95%) and were virally suppressed (66%).  Only 10% of cases had a CD4 count <200 cells/ul. Pregnancy status was available for 21 cases and 5 were pregnant at the time of their initial intake screening. Of the 253 HIV cases, 13% were coinfected with a positive syphilis test. Only 18 are currently residing within the temporary shelters.

Conclusion:
Over the last decade incidence of new HIV cases in Chicago decreased by 39%.  Provisional data, in 2023, we saw an increase in number of cases by 14% in comparison to 2022. Additional resources and targeted interventions are urgently needed to address the changing epidemiology of HIV in Chicago.