Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, June 18, 2015
(SCOTT CO.) - The State Department of Health outlined its plan Wednesday morning to control the HIV outbreak in southeastern Indiana.
The number of HIV cases in and around Scott County is now at 170 -- 169 confirmed and one preliminary positive.
Health officials say most of the responsibility to control the outbreak falls on agencies located in and around Scott County. At a town hall meeting Tuesday night, officials said the Community Outreach Center where people have been able to get HIV tests, treatment, and exchange needles will be shutting down at the end of the month.
WISH TV reports, now, there's an effort underway to establish a permanent location for a needle exchange program. There's also training happening in the Scott County Health Department, neighboring counties, and the Scott County School District on how to test for HIV.
Wednesday morning, health officials discussed efforts to setup patients with health insurance through the HIP 2.0 plan. They also said they're working to help people obtain jobs in the area.
Health officials said it was crucial to have these and other services located in Austin so the people who need the services can easily obtain them.
A Hepatitis C outbreak is prompting Madison County officials to try to start it's own needle exchange program. The State Department of Health will hear their proposal Wednesday morning.
One-hundred-thirty people were diagnosed with Hepatitis C in Madison County in 2014, that's double the number of cases from 2013. Health officials there say if something isn't done, an HIV outbreak could be next. A needle exchange program would need to be approved by the state before Madison County health officials could ramp up those efforts.
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