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Last updated on Monday, March 23, 2015
(UNDATED) - State health officials reported today a total of 55 confirmed cases of HIV and 13 additional preliminary positive cases related to the outbreak in southeastern Indiana that was announced in February.
All cases are linked to injection drug abuse of the prescription opioid painkiller, opana, with some individuals also reporting sexual intercourse as a possible mode of transmission.
State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams is very concerned and making it a top priority. It is believed drug abuse is the driving force behind the outbreak.
State health officials recommend that all Hoosiers know their HIV status. The best way for an individual to learn their HIV status is by getting tested by a health care professional. Hoosiers in the southeastern portion of the state, especially individuals who have engaged in high-risk behavior such as needle sharing and unprotected sex, are advised to get tested and then re-tested after about two to three months because HIV can take up to three months to appear in a person's system.
The Indiana State Department of Health is working closely with local health officials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drug treatment facilities, local medical providers, and other State agencies to contain the outbreak and get HIV positive individuals treatment. Specifically, the State Health Department has requested a medical team from CDC to help with following up on contacts of HIV positive individuals and analyzing data. The team, which will arrive in Scott County on Monday, consists of two medical doctors and one epidemiologist.
Other efforts include the creation of a public awareness campaign created specifically in response to this outbreak, called You Are Not Alone, which focuses on drug abuse, safe sex, needle disposal and HIV testing and treatment. Viewers are encouraged to contact the HIV services hotline or addiction hotline for local treatment and care resources. The campaign will include digital and social media ads, billboards along the Interstate 65 corridor, radio, and will be featured in the free local paper, The Giveaway. Social media ads will begin today, with the rest of the campaign rolling out over the next two weeks and lasting three months. The campaign can be seen in southeastern Indiana counties.
State health officials recommend that all Hoosiers know their HIV status. The best way for an individual to learn their HIV status is by getting tested by a health care professional. Hoosiers in the southeastern portion of the state, especially individuals who have engaged in high-risk behavior such as needle sharing and unprotected sex, are advised to get tested and then re-tested after about two to three months because HIV can take up to three months to appear in a person's system.
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