The governor has said he opposes clean needle exchanges as a drug addiction-fighting strategy, but is making an exception in the case of Scott County, where the number of cases has now grown to 79 since the outbreak was first identified.

Rep. Ed Clere, R-New Albany, plans to introduce an amendment on Wednesday that would permit the distribution of clean needles to IV drug users.

The outbreak has been concentrated in Scott County. Dr. Kevin Burke of the Clark County Health Department, which handles HIV cases for the region, says his team has confirmed 51 cases as of Wednesday afternoon. Fifteen other people have been flagged through preliminary screenings.

Last Wednesday, the Indiana State Health Department declared an HIV outbreak in southeastern Indiana. All of the cases were linked to IV drug abuse, specifically of the powerful prescription narcotic, Opana.