Health professionals call for radical changes as HIV outbreak in Indiana hits ‘epidemic proportions’

HEALTH professionals are calling for radical changes after Indiana entered a public health emergency following a spike in HIV cases.

Disgruntled Blacktown resident complained about the amount of syringes thrown into his backyard from an alleyway. Pictured are some of the syringes collected by the resident in his backyard when at time of photos being taken. drugs / needles / drug addicts

HEALTH professionals are calling for radical changes after Indiana entered a public health emergency following a spike in HIV cases.

State health officials from Scott County have recorded 81 HIV positive cases, including 74 confirmed cases and another 7 preliminary cases in the last several months.

The outbreak has been blamed on the counties widespread drug abuse and insufficient public health system.

As one of the more poverty stricken parts of the country, the rural area has long struggled with heroin addiction.

However, the recent cases of HIV have been linked specifically to oxymorphone — a prescription painkiller commonly known by the brand name Opana.

Addiction specialist Dr Andy Chambers said the spread of the disease is becoming a problem because many of the addicts are injecting the opioid.

“There is a social network that often goes along with this kind of drug use,” he told NPR.

“So it’s fairly usual for infectious diseases to spread through the needles.”

A sign for free HIV testing is pictured in front of the Scott County Health Department. Picture: Christopher Fryer

Indiana University health professor and co-director of the Rural Centre for AIDS/STD Prevention Beth Meyerson said the area needed more than a single HIV testing clinic in order to stem the spread of the infection.

“The system isn’t working and isn’t strong enough from a public health perspective,” she told Time.

Damien Centre Executive Director Tom Bartenbach echoed the sentiments.

“With 91% of new infections originating from those who either do not know they’re infected or are not in care, getting individuals tested for HIV is a critical aspect of preventing the spread of infection,” he told WishTV.

As well as pushing for more testing clinics, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has implemented a temporary needle exchange in Scott County as part of the emergency response.

Mike Pence has declared a public health emergency in response to the HIV epidemic in Scott County. Picture: Michael Conroy

Despite agreeing to a 30-day needle-exchange program, Governor Mike Pence said he strongly believes such initiatives should remain illegal.

“In response to a public health emergency, I’m prepared to make an exception to my longstanding opposition to needle exchange programs,” he said.

“I don’t believe that effective anti-drug policy involves handing out paraphernalia to drug users by government officials.

“I reject that.”

However, Ed Clere, a republican state legislator who represents a nearby county thinks the program should be implemented permanently to stop the outbreak from spreading across the country.

“When we smell smoke, we shouldn’t wait until the house is engulfed in flames to do something,” he told NPR.