Public health emergency declared for Wayne County
WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) – A public health emergency has been declared for Wayne County.
State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams, declared a public health emergency Friday.
The emergency allows the county health department to create a syringe exchange program to try and reduce the spread of hepatitis C.
“Every Indiana community should know its risk factors for an outbreak similar to the one that occurred in Scott County, and rising hepatitis C rates are a key indicator of injection drug use that can spread disease,” said State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams, M.D., M.P.H. “By identifying troubling risk factors and developing a comprehensive plan to address it, Wayne County is showing its commitment to protecting the health of its citizens and its communities.”
The steps in the process for local communities that local health officials must do include
- Declare that an epidemic of hepatitis C or HIV exists
- Determine that it is primarily transmitted through IV drug use
- Deem that a syringe exchange program is medically appropriate as part of a comprehensive response
County commissioners must:
- Hold a public hearing
- Take official action adopting the declarations of the local health officer (above)
- Describe other actions taken regarding the epidemic that have proven ineffective
- Request a public health emergency declaration from the state
No state funding is used to support syringe exchange programs.
The public health emergency will run through June 2, 2017.
The other counties that have been declared public health emergencies include:
- Madison
- Monroe
- Fayette
- Scott
If you have questions about the program contact Eric Coulter at 765-971-9245 or click here for important health and safety information.