More than 20 percent of Indiana counties are in the process of creating a needle exchange program.

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.

Brown County has seen a slight increase in its Hepatitis C rates over the past year, now officials are trying to determine the cause.

The needle-exchange program will start next Wednesday and rotate between four sites in hopes of reducing the spread of hepatitis C among IV drug users.

Clark County Public Health Officer, Dr. Kevin Burke has already declared a public health emergency. He says the county's HIV and Hepatitis C rates are 25 to 30 percent higher than the state average.

Wayne County Health Department Director Eric Coulter told the County Council last week that the department's board is moving closer to asking the state health commissioner to approve a needle exchange for the county under the law that legislators approved this spring.

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.