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24 new HIV cases reported in Indiana outbreak

AUSTIN, Ind. (AP) – Indiana health officials say there are two dozen new cases of HIV in the small southeastern Indiana city of Austin, bringing the total outbreak to 130.

The Indiana State Department of Health said Friday morning that there are now 120 confirmed cases and ten preliminary positive cases in Austin in Scott County.

State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams called it a “significant increase.” Scott County typically sees only about five new HIV cases a year.

Gov. Mike Pence temporarily waived Indiana’s ban on needle-exchange programs for only Scott County. The state health department said Friday that so far the program has provided 5,322 clean syringes to 86 participants. That’s twice the number of participants previously reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started sending help last month.