HIV Outbreak In Southern Indiana Reaches 166 Cases

The Indiana State Department of Health says that 166 people have now tested positive for HIV in southern Indiana. Most of the cases have been linked to injection drug abuse. 

Scott County, located less than 40 miles north of Louisville, Ky., is the epicenter of the outbreak, which was first detected late last year. The crisis led Gov. Mike Pence to declare a public health emergency in March, which allowed health workers to operate a needle exchange in Scott County to try to curb the spread of the virus. 

Since the needle exchange began operating in April, 182 people have reportedly signed up, and more than 24,000 sterile syringes have been distributed.