Pubdate: Fri, 22 May 2015
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2015 The Associated Press
Contact:  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: Rick Callahan, the Associated Press

HIV OUTBREAK SPURS INDIANA TO OK NEEDLE EXCHANGE

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana approved a yearlong needleexchange 
program Thursday for a county at the center of an HIV outbreak that 
prompted a new state law allowing such programs.

State health Commissioner Dr. Jerome Adams' approval for Scott County 
includes a public-health emergency declaration that will allow it to 
operate a needle exchange through May 24, 2016. The southeastern 
Indiana county has operated a temporary needle-exchange since early 
April under executive orders Gov. Mike Pence signed in response to 
the largest HIV outbreak in state history.

Scott County, about 30 miles north of Louisville, Ky., is the first 
to receive state approval for a needle exchange under the new law 
that ended Indiana's ban. That law provides for such exchanges if a 
community proves it's facing an HIV or hepatitis C epidemic fueled by 
intravenous-drug use.

Needle exchanges provide IV-drug users with clean syringes and 
collect used needles to help prevent the spread of diseases. Scott 
County's program starts Monday.

State epidemiologist Pam Pontones said Thursday that 160 people have 
tested positive for HIV since December. The county typically has 
about five new cases each year of the virus that causes AIDS. As of 
Thursday, 171 people were participating in the county's program.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom