HIV Cluster Detection and Response

HIV Clusters and Transmission Networks

New laboratory and epidemiological approaches can help identify communities affected by rapid transmission of HIV resulting from gaps in prevention and care services. These approaches are being put to use at Georgia DPH. Part of the routine collection of data for HIV Surveillance includes information about specific virus strains.

People who have very similar strains of HIV virus are part of a transmission network, which is also referred to as a “cluster”. When a group of people is found to have highly similar strains of HIV virus, that is an indication that transmission happened rapidly among them. It also indicates that HIV prevention and care services have not effectively reached that community.

Recognizing these networks helps Public Health identify areas where improvements are needed, and direct resources to communities that need them the most.

This fact sheet provides information on monitoring of clusters and describes how this information is being used to implement response efforts in Georgia:

HIV Cluster Detection and Response in Georgia