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Indiana’s HIV outbreak in rural county tops 100 cases

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – State health officials say more than 100 people have tested positive for HIV as an outbreak of the virus in southeastern Indiana continues among intravenous drug users.

The state’s Joint Information Center said Friday that as of Thursday there had been 95 confirmed HIV cases and 11 preliminary positive cases tied to the outbreak.

All of the HIV cases have been linked to needle-sharing among intravenous drug users.

Scott County is the epicenter of those cases, which have become Indiana’s largest-ever HIV outbreak. That county is about 30 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky.

Gov. Mike Pence declared a public health emergency in the county March 26 that allowed a limited need-exchange program there in hopes of stemming the spread of the virus. That center opened last Saturday.