The “U=U” public health message is making a big difference in Kitsap County for people living with HIV.

It stands for “Undetectable = Untransmittable” and means patients who get effective treatment cannot sexually transmit the virus.

With proper medication, the virus can be undetectable in under six months. “It opens up social choices they never thought possible,” Ashley Duren told the Kitsap Public Health District board April 1.

Also at the meeting, board members were told the state is losing $130 million in funding for the COVID pandemic, so there will be cuts in Kitsap programs related to that.

Regarding U=U, Duren said that information can reduce the stigma, shame and fear, which in turn encourages access to care.

She shared a “huge success story” of a man who was going through end-of-life planning because he had received no treatment for a mystery illness. Medical experts finally figured out he was in the late stages of AIDS. But with proper treatment, he is a boat captain now and for two years has had no issues.

Duren said KPHD is working with 184 clients—men make up 149, women 28 and seven are trans. Almost half are age 60 and older, and some have been clients for 25 years.

“We do it all” when it comes to supporting the patients and linking them to services, she said, adding they help with wraparound services like food, transportation and housing.

Kelsey Stedman of KPHD gave a presentation at the meeting on Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Stedman said while numbers have dropped for most STIs, syphilis has doubled in the state. It is prevalent in people who are homeless and use drugs. While it used to be found mostly in gay men cases are rising among women, and if left untreated it can be passed on to babies. Miscarriages occur 50% of the time, but if treated before delivery there is a 90% positive outcome. “Testing is so important,” Stedman said, adding 50% of cases aren’t diagnosed until a year after infection.

She said smoking rather than injecting drugs has a positive effect on those numbers.

Cases of other types of STIs actually are on the decline and below the state average. She attributes that to providing sexual health counseling and treating people who are at higher risk.

HIV has been stable at about eight a year. There were 696 cases of chlamydia last year and 162 cases of gonorreha. Stedman said there are 90 conditions that have to be reported to public health—some immediately, some within 24 hours and others within three days.

Their goals are to provide education, make sure people are treated and be a resource for medical providers.

If she could wave a magic wand, she’d like to see a reduction in barriers to treatment and to end feelings of fear and being stigmatized.

KPHD administrator Yolanda Fong told the board about programs that will take a hit due to federal cuts. Those include two clinics a month for COVID vaccinations that were supposed to last through June. However, Peninsula Connect Services is still having the clinics, she said. Doses already received will be available, and folks will be directed to their primary care providers as other options.

She also said in a University of Wisconsin survey Kitsap ranks first in the state in community conditions for good health. She said while the data used in the survey was old, “It’s a great nod to Kitsap for improving the health of communities.”

KPHD health officer Dr. Gib Morrow was sick, but in a letter to the board he said that Kitsap has been able to avoid cuts in public health, but that cannot be said for workers at the state and national levels.

Meanwhile, Kandice Atisme’-Bevins gave an update on KPHD’s Strategic Plan.

She said it’s reviewed every seven to 10 years, while objectives are updated every three years and activities updated quarterly each year. “It constantly shifts to meet the needs of the community,” she said.

She said last year they decided to “shoot for the moon” with 322 activities, but only accomplished 159. So they decided on a “more realistic” 184 this year. They also want to focus on consistency of implementation and accountability. In general they want to improve communication and partnerships.

As for their five objectives:

• Regarding communicable diseases, they had 30 activities last year, including one a quarterly meeting with St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale.

•As for chronic conditions, there were 19 activities, led by working with pregnant and parenting families.

•Regarding a healthy environment, there were 12 activities, led by the technical advisory group on the onsite sewage law.

•As for public health infrastructure, there were 56 activities, led by updating the style guide.

•There were 52 activities under administrative services, led by the internal community assessment process.