State of emergency declared in Indiana over historic HIV outbreak

[underpants]

Sorry no link - iPhone issue.

MSNBC

An HIV “epidemic” fueled by needle-sharing opiate addicts has infected at least 72 people in one southern Indiana county as Gov. Mike Pence plans to declare a public health emergency in that community on Thursday.

The outbreak’s swift acceleration in Scott County — beginning with seven known HIV-positive patients in late January — has prompted state officials to ask the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to deploy investigators to test residents and to help control further spread of the virus, Pence said.

CDC staff arrived on Monday and “traveled to the community … an epidemic ‘aid team.’ I met with them late Monday,” Pence told reporters in Scottsburg, the county seat. “And they informed me that they had confirmed that we have an epidemic in Scott County.”

Another seven residents from the area also tested “preliminary positive” for HIV — all similarly linked to opiate injections with dirty needles — bringing the possible caseload to nearly 80, Pence said.

“This is not a Scott County problem, this is an Indiana problem,” he said. “People of Indiana are here to come along side our fellow Hoosiers here in Scott County and work this problem and deal with this crisis in a way that will save lives and restore health and law and order to this community,” the governor added.

[Faux pas]

1. Heard it on the msnbc

wonder how long they've been letting this brew before admitting it or doing something about it? They are admitting it's drug use related (duh) at least their not blaming 'the gays'.

[old guy]

3. Give them a little time, they'll get around to it.

[Faux pas]

9. Yeah

you're probably right old guy. Damn it

[It is Tuesday]

2. Here's that link, underpants..

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/indiana-allows-needle-exchange-program-to-stem-hiv-outbreak/ar-AAa0mWG

[underpants]

12. Thanks

I just upgraded to a 4S (don't laugh) and I can post text but not links.

[It is Tuesday]

13. I don't own an iPhone, so I can't laugh..

I own a smartphone - an Samsung Galaxy 5.

[KamaAina]

4. Clearly god's punishment for the religious freedom bill.

[Trillo]

10. Timing? Supposedly some supreme court same-sex marriage case(s)

coming up soon. An attempt to influence the court?

I know your post was sarcasm, mine isn't. There's just too much craziness all of a sudden. Hucakabee and his "call fire down from heaven" or whatever it was. Sodomite suppression act in California. The unrelated Robertsons and their inane ranting. Indiana approving religious hatred (it is honest of them to finally be truthful about their religion).

[riversedge]

5. Repugs in Senate ignored this issue last year..............

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-indiana-public-health-emergency-hiv-outbreak-20150325-story.html


....Republican Rep. Ed Clere of New Albany, who proposed the needle distribution and collection program Wednesday at the Statehouse, said a House panel considered similar legislation last year, but it didn't receive a hearing in the Senate.

"Unfortunately we're back here, not just with needle exchange as a hypothetical theory, but with a real situation where a needle exchange (program) could make a difference," he said.

The program would require participating agencies to register with state and local health departments and provide information on treatment for drug addiction.

Dr. Jennifer Walthall, deputy state health commissioner, told lawmakers that despite Pence's opposition to a needle-exchange program, the department must look at every option.

[still_one]

6. How is that opposition to a needle exchange program working out. Obviously not allowed in red

states because we sure don't want to "enable" drug addiction. Same logic applies to not treating folks who are in the country illegally, by denying medical care to them. Good way to spread infectious diseases

[randome]

7. I wonder who will be the first health care worker...

...to decline treating someone because of their religious beliefs? Now that Gov. Pence has signed this piece of shit legislation. http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/pence-signs-gay-marriage-religious-freedom-bill
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Aspire to inspire.[/center][/font][hr]

[pinto]

8. Safe, legal syringe exchange. Front line HIV/HCV infection prevention for injection drug users.

I work with a local syringe exchange program (legalized in CA). It works (no pun intended) on a number of levels - basic infection prevention, access to opiate overdose intervention, access to an array of related health care.

[NaturalHigh]

11. I seriously thought this sort of thing was in the past.

[LadyHawkAZ]

14. Needle exchange. Duh.

Why is it necessary for people to die before common sense starts to kick in?

[Runningdawg]

15. We have a whole new generation

who thinks AIDS is something gay people got back in the dark ages. Precautions have slipped because these people haven't seen any of their friends waste away.

[Corey_Baker08]

16. The Heroin Epidemic In This State Is Killing Many & Infecting Users...

However in Wayne County, Indiana where I live there is no needle exchange places. You have to have a Prescription to get hypodermic needles, I know people who are forced to use needle's that are intended for horses & other animals because
Its either that or share needle's.

Its a shame that Heroin has taken over so quickly & destroyed so many lives & while our local Police have recently started carrying Narcan, they believe in jail or prison over rehabilitation.

Thank God that there is a Methadone Clinic in our town because for all the negative stereotypes about it, It is responsible for saving more lives both literally & figuratively by rebuilding individuals lives and bringing families back together and getting these individuals Jobs instead of them committing crimes in order to pay for heroin.

Methadone Clinics Do Work, They Do Save Lives & They Also Rebuild Lives...

[hatrack]

17. Good thing they were paying attention to the really important stuff, huh?

You know, like providing legal cover for people to hate gays, and refuse service to whoever because of the voices in their heads.

[hatrack]

18. Quick, GOP - put together a bill legalizing refusal of medical service to HIV-positive citizens!

Gaw-duh commands it, after all!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

19. How an HIV outbreak hit rural Indiana — and why we should be paying attention

How an HIV outbreak hit rural Indiana — and why we should be paying attention

By Danielle Paquette March 30 at 11:55 AM

Years ago, William Cooke sensed a crisis building. The only doctor in rural Austin, Ind., noticed that intravenous drug use was soaring in his town of roughly 4,300, where 23 percent of residents live below the poverty line. He feared that people addicted to injectible painkillers might be plucking used needles off lawns, shooting up — and passing them on.

A surge of drug overdoses hit Cooke’s family practice, where he'd treat anyone with $10. More Hepatitis C infections followed. Next came an HIV diagnosis in December, rare in southeastern Scott County. By Friday, the number of new cases had climbed toward 80.

Last week, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence declared the outbreak a public health emergency, the worst in state history, authorizing a short-term needle exchange program. The announcement came as a surprise: Rates of new HIV transmission have been declining in Indiana for years, from 463 reported in 2002 to 205 in 2012.