Indiana Governor Declares Public Health Emergency to Battle Worst HIV Outbreak in State History

iStock/Thinkstock(INDIANAPOLIS) — Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Thursday declared a public health emergency for an Indiana county battling what is believed to be the worst HIV outbreak in the state’s history.

Pence said 79 cases have been confirmed, and, with more testing underway, “We expect that number to go up.”

The cases have either been found in or are connected to Scott County, near the Kentucky border.

The state health department has attributed the outbreak to an opioid painkiller called Opana. It’s believed to be the worst HIV outbreak in the state history, a spokeswoman at the Scott County Health Department said.

“For years we’ve been fighting Opana in our county,” said Brittany Combs, public health nurse at Scott County Health Department. “[Doctors] won’t give [prescriptions] for Opana unless absolutely necessary. Our doctors aren’t writing for it. It’s coming from out of county.”

Combs said Opana is a painkiller normally given in pill form to patients, and it is used as “last resort” for pain relief. People recreationally using the drug often crush the pill and inject it for a longer-lasting high, according to Combs.

Everyone who has tested positive for HIV has admitted to intravenous drug use, although some have also had sex with other users, meaning it is not always clear how the virus was spread, according to Combs.

A public awareness campaign to alert residents about the increase in HIV cases has started in the region.

In addition to local and state health officials, the CDC has sent a team to the area to assist with the response.


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