Scott County

More than 230 people became infected with HIV in Indiana, worsened by delayed action from former Gov. Mike Pence. Experts and locals credit Indiana's first syringe exchange program for stopping the spread.  

Dr. Jerome Adams says he is concerned about the potential for another HIV outbreak in southeast Indiana now that Scott County has closed its needle exchange.

Scott County School District 1 went virtual just one week into the new school year, citing an explosive outbreak of COVID-19 cases among students.

Scott County's needle exchange program has been credited with slowing the severe HIV outbreak that rocked the rural county in 2015, and is now seen as the national benchmark for how similar programs should operate. It will stop operating Jan. 1, 2022.

Syringe service programs, also called needle exchanges, provide intravenous drug users with clean needles and a place to dispose of used ones.

As COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the state, some counties are tailoring public health messages to resonate with residents. Scott County officials say direct communication with communities has been key to helping curb the virus spread.

In 2015, Scott County experienced an HIV outbreak fueled by the injection of opioids. Since then the county has been able to reduce the number of new cases.

Jerry Goodin took over as Scott County Sheriff on Jan. 1 and immediately promised to make the county a drug-free zone.

During the chase, the officer's vehicle went off the road and hit a tree in the front yard of a home.

A new study looked at whether or not early intervention would have changed the dynamics of the outbreak. Researchers hope it illustrates a valuable lesson for communities in the future.