Health departments statewide watching Indiana HIV epidemic

As state officials react to the public health emergency in Scott County due to an outbreak of HIV, local health departments are watching and waiting for instruction.

On Friday, state health officials reported a total of 81 HIV positive tests which includes 74 confirmed and seven preliminary cases related to the outbreak in Scott County. Because of the outbreak, Gov. Mike Pence has declared a public health emergency.

According to state health officials, the public health emergency declaration was issued in Executive Order 15-05 that allows the state to coordinate a multi-agency response including Scott County Health Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug treatment facilities, academic and local medical providers, other state agencies and other partners.

Pulaski County Director of Environmental Health and Office Manager Terri Hansen said the outbreak was a topic of discussion at a recent health department officers meeting. The outbreak of HIV wasn’t something health departments have thought about as an epidemic but it’s something they are now discussing.

“If people have any questions at all we can direct them to the people that they need to talk to, whether it be AIDS Ministry or the state department of health. We would do everything that we could to help them get where they need to go,” Hansen said.

State health officials recommended that all Hoosiers know their HIV status.

Locally, AIDS Ministries Assist of North Indiana will hold HIV testing on April 16 at the Pulaski County Health Department.