The Monroe County Health Department says the cases do not appear to be linked, which indicates that the virus is spreading in the community and mumps cases could increase.

Southern Indiana property owners who oppose plans to turn an old railroad corridor into a multi-use trail are embroiled in a court battle challenging the ownership of that land.

Monroe County was approved for a needle exchange in December when the state health commissioner declared a public health emergency. That allowed the creation of a needle-exchange program to curb the spread of hepatitis C tied to intravenous drug use.

The Monroe County Health Department will use a grant from the Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis and AIDS United to help fund its syringe exchange program.

Monroe County is the latest in Indiana to have been declared a public health emergency. State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams made the declaration today in response to an outbreak of hepatitis C.

Monroe County Health Department Administrator Penny Caudill says the declaration is the first step to create a needle exchange. The numbers of Hepatitis C cases in the county have increased over 50 percent since 2009.

Cook Pharmica currently employs 575 workers, part of more than 13,000 Cook Group employees worldwide, and has already started hiring new employees.