Indiana Gov. Mike Pence declared a public health emergency because of an HIV outbreak. Seventy-nine cases have been reported in one county and that number is expected to rise.
"We have signed today an executive order that initiates a robust response to stop this HIV outbreak in its tracks. And this we will do," the governor said.
Pence said 100 percent of the HIV cases were traced to intravenous drug users who were sharing needles.
"There is the potential that the HIV virus will spread by other means, including sexual contact," he warned. "But this is truly a crisis that is centered on a crisis of drug abuse."
The abuse of intravenous drugs, such as heroin, has been rising in recent years. Experts say many heroin addicts are former prescription painkiller addicts who switched because heroin is cheaper and easier to obtain.
The governor made a plea to people who may be infected with the HIV virus and not know it.
"The quickest way we can confront this virus is if people who think they may have been exposed, by whatever means, would simply reach out, go to a hospital, go to a clinic, and be tested," he explained.
The governor says people in possession of dirty needles may swap them for clean ones without penalty.
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